By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Assistant, ACC
The Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday, 9th July 2025, presented a cheque of One Million Leones (1 Billion old Leones) to the Mayor of Freetown, Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr.
The official presentation ceremony took place at the Conference Room of the ACC’s Integrity House in Freetown.
Recovery of the funds follows the Commission's investigation into the alleged diversion of the council’s revenues amounting to Three Million Leones (3 Billion old Leones), with the FCC Football Club account used as a conduit to perpetrate the grand corrupt scheme.
The Commission’s investigation established that the funds had been unlawfully withdrawn by council staff, with compelling evidence of collusion with some banking staff.
Presenting the cheque, Commissioner of the ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. emphasized the importance of institutional collaboration and financial restitution in the fight against corruption. He d said that the Commission’s findings made it clear that the fraudulent actions could not have occurred without internal complicity at the bank.
“This One Million Leones is a symbolic presentation. The remaining amount will be transferred in due course as we continue to ensure full recovery and accountability,” the Commissioner affirmed.
Receiving the cheque on behalf of the Council, Her Worship the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, expressed profound appreciation to the ACC for its robust intervention and unwavering commitment to transparency.
She acknowledged that while the Council had initiated its own internal inquiries, the legal mandate and powers of the ACC were instrumental in uncovering the full extent of the issue.
She said the issue is not merely about financial recovery but the Commission's action sends a clear message that misconduct has real consequences.
The Mayor also expressed concern over the involvement of both Council staff and banking officials in the fraudulent scheme, describing it as a setback to public sector integrity and national development.
She emphasized that the cooperation between the FCC and ACC should serve as a model for institutional partnership in combating corruption.
“Our partnership with the ACC was never adversarial, as many assumed" she said, adding that it has proven collaborative and constructive.
She assured that the Council will launch a project to which the funds will be committed and the ACC will be proudly acknowledged for enabling a seed investment.
The event concluded with the handing over of the cheque, witnessed by the Deputy Commissioner of the ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie and the Chief Administrator of the FCC, Tom Rahman Farma and other officials of both Institutions.
The gesture marks yet another milestone in the ACC’s ongoing efforts to ensure misappropriated public resources are not only traced but fully recovered and returned for the benefit of citizens.
