2. L ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. during the session Page 2 ACC Commissioner (in white from right) and other heads of anti - corruption institutions in Africa on the first day of the meeting The Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. has led one of the most important sessions at the just - concluded 7 th Annual General Meeting of the Africa Association of Anti - Corruption Authorities (AAACA) held in Algiers, Algeria from the 20 th to the 22 nd July 2025. The meeting took place at the Abdelatif Ra- hal International Conference Center in Algiers. The session, held on the final day of the event, was meant to determine the applications of the leading government anti - corruption agencies of countries that had applied for admission into the AAACA. According to the ACC Commissioner, the Agency for the Prevention and Fight Against Corruption of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Commission to Combat Economic, Financial and Tax Delinquency of Niger and the Administrative Control Authority of Libya had applied for admission within the last one year. Mr Kaifala, who doubles as Executive Member of the AAACA representing the ECOWAS region, asked the heads of each of the agencies applied to explain to the general assembly of the AAACA about the mandate and work of their respective agencies and the reasons for their applications, which the applicants took turns to do. Mr Kaifala then officially presented their applications to the general membership for admission. After a period of deliberations by the general membership of the AAACA, the agencies of the three countries were admitted into the body. Egypt ’ s Administrative Control Authority currently holds the presidency of the AAACA. Speaking after the admission, the Egyptian representative and president of the AAACA, Gnl Khaled Abdelrahman, thanked Mr Kaifala for his astute leadership in overseeing the process for the admission of the three new member countries. Also at the Annual General Meeting, the AAACA approved for the launch of the Centre for Anti - Corruption Studies and Research in Africa (CEREAC), which will be located in Kenya. The Centre, which launching will take place during the 8 th Annual General Meeting of the AAACA in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, will undertake research geared towards eradicating corruption in Africa and serve as an institute for the training of officers of anti - corruption agencies of member states. Another resolution is the approval of a project action plan for implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the AAACA and the African Development Bank. The MoU is geared towards developing the capacity of staff of the anti - corruption agencies of member states and providing support for research activities aimed at combating corruption in the African continent. During the Meeting, there were also experiences shared by Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt centred on the theme “ Asset Recovery in Africa: Legal Framework and Best Practices for Achieving Sustainable Development ”. ACC Commissioner and Director of Public Education and Outreach in Algiers

3. Page 3 The Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) on 29th July 2025, hosted a high - powered delegation from the Liberia Anti - Corruption Commission (LACC) on a study visit at the Conference Room, Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown. The engagement aimed at fostering collaboration and mutual learning between the two anti - graft Institutions. Declaring the purpose of the visit, the Vice Executive Chairman of the LACC, Ernest Hughes, noted that the historic and fraternal ties between Sierra Leone and Liberia as recently emphasized by His Excellency, President Brigadier (Retired) Julius Maada Bio at Liberia"s independent celebration necessitate such bilateral engagements. He reiterated that before embarking on any new institutional reforms, it was Important for the LACC to begin with Sierra Leone, given the two countries ’ shared history and strong bonds. Mr. Hughes stated that although the LACC was established in 2008, the current leadership, which assumed office in 2023, has been focused on revamping the institution. "As we explored options and engaged our partners, Sierra Leone consistently stood out as a place where we could learn immensely," he revealed. He further expressed LACC ’ s interest in formalizing a twinning arrangement with the ACC, emphasizing that anti - corruption work is complex and that both countries could benefit from shared experiences and technical cooperation. In his remarks, ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala welcomed the delegation and affirmed the Commission ’ s readiness to ensure the purpose of their visit is fully achieved. “ We will ensure that your study visit yields the desired outcomes, ” he assured, while instructing Directors present to provide full support to the visiting team, who will be engaging with the ACC for a week . Deputy Commissioner of the ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie, also assured the LACC delegation of the Commission ’ s openness to collaborate. “ Be rest assured that our doors are open, and we will provide all the necessary support, including reviewing the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ” he said. The LACC delegation began their visit with a tour of various departments of the ACC, where they were introduced to the Commission ’ s strategies and methodologies in combating corruption. The Vice Executive Chairman was accompanied by Vivian S. Akoto, Executive Assistant/Program Manager in the Office of the Executive Chairman, and John E. Tommy, Program Manager and Education and Prevention Officer. By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Assistant, AC C The meeting with the LACC Vice Executive Chairman of the LACC, Ernest Hughes declaring the purpose of the visit Commissioner ACC , Francis Ben Kaifala Esq welcoming the team

4. Page 4 By: Bernard Abass Kargbo, Public Education Officer, ACC Participants during the training opening ceremony Commissioner ACC Francis Ben Kaifala Esq making a statement at the training Group Photo with a cross - section of participants L - R: ACC ’ s Deputy Commis- sioner Augustine Foday Ngobie, Deputy IG Sahr Yomba Senessie and ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. The leaderships of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) on Monday, 28th July 2025 started a series of training workshops aimed at mainstreaming integrity in the operations of law enforcement agencies. The event took place at the Association of Police Wives Conference Room, Kingtom Police Barracks. The event brought together police officers, law enforcement agencies, transport sector stakeholders, and representatives from the Institute of Governance Reform (IGR). The initiative aims to strengthen ethical conduct, promote anti - corruption practices, and foster collaborative governance. It comes in response to the recent Afrobarometer Report, which states that citizens perceive the police as the most corrupt. The Commissioner of ACC Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. acknowledged the importance of the event, noting “ Today is a very significant day in many ways: for years we have had conversations, we advise each other on our work because substantially, our work is actually police work. For several years, the ACC and the SLP have had a great relationship, and the leadership of the Police have been extremely supportive. ” He also explained the correlation between the visibility and interactions between members of the public and law enforcement officers, noting that the public ’ s negative perception is because the “ police interface with the public more than any other public institution. ” The Commissioner went on to highlight some of the challenges of law enforcement agencies, paramount amongst them is low wages, stating that “ your wages and salaries are not as it should be as police officers. ” Notwithstanding these challenges, Mr. Kaifala asked: “ Do we leave it for you to pay yourselves in the street? Do we leave it for you to pay yourselves in the police stations? Or do we leave it for you to go against your professional ethics by blaming all these problems? ” He went on to encourage the law enforcement agencies to strive for integrity and discipline. The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sahr Yomba Senessie, stressed the importance of collaboration with the ACC to mitigate corruption risks within law enforcement. He stressed the commendable work of the ACC: “ the Commissioner and the ACC are doing a great job in this country, and we need to commend them for that .” The DIG maintained that the fight against corruption is very important to the survival of the nation, as “ corruption is not good for any country. ” He continued by acknowledging the importance of the train- ing, adding that “ we are very much particular about the Afrobarometer perception survey ; we appreciate it as it keeps us on our toes .” He ended by assuring the ACC that all the advice and proposed solutions would be given due consideration. The Director of Training of the SLP Assistant Inspector Gen- eral of Police Alpha Ben Kellah urged participants to take the training seriously, stating: “ It is our responsibility to at- tach the much - needed attention to this training. ” He emphasized that solutions must come from within the ranks. He continued that this training should be a wake - up call for collaborative efforts to combat corruption in the Force. The training will be replicated across the country.

1. Contd. Page 4 11 Mobile No: 8515 on all Networks EDITORIAL TEA M EDITOR - IN - CHIEF Abubakarr Turay EDITORS Sylvanus Blake Alex A. Bah LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Philippa M Davies EDITORIAL ADVISERS Augustine Foday Ngobie Patrick Sandi 28th July — 1 st August 2025 ISSUE 3, VOLUME 11 By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Assistant, ACC ECOWAS Court of Justice, including its President, Vice President, and other distinguished members, at its Conference Room, Integrity House, Freetown. Explaining the purpose of the visit, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Saptieu Elizabeth Saccoh, stated that the delegation is in Sierra Leone to conduct a capacity - building training for State Attorneys of the Law Officers Department. She underscored the pressing need for Sierra Leonean lawyers to better under- stand the procedures of the ECOWAS Court. According to her, it is disheartening that Sierra Leone has had to rely on Gambian lawyers for ECOWAS Court matters, especially given that, until recently, Gambians had to attend law school in Sierra Leone before establishing their own. ( ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala receiving award from the President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Ricar- do Claudio Monteiro R Osman I. Kanu, Director of Public Prosecutions; Deputy Minister of Justice, Saptieu Elizabeth ; Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala; Hon. Justice Ricardo Claudio Monteiro, President of ECOWAS Court of Justice; Deputy Commissioner, Augustine Foday Ngobie; Hon Justice Sengu Koroma JSC, Vice President ECOWAS Court of Justice She emphasized that it was crucial for the ECOWAS delegation to meet with the ACC, considering the Commission ’ s pivotal and strategic role in the country ’ s justice system. The President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Ricardo Claudio Monteiro Goncalves, expressed his delight at meeting with the ACC and acknowledged the importance of such engagements in strengthening regional cooperation. In his remarks, the Court ’ s Vice President, Hon. Justice Sengu Koroma (JSC), noted a significant gap in Sierra Leonean representation at the Court. “ When I joined, there was only one Sierra Leonean lawyer who adequate- ly understood the Court ’ s procedural framework. I urged the President to commit to increasing Sierra Leone ’ s presence, ” he revealed, stressing the Court ’ s commitment to equip- ping more Sierra Leonean legal professionals. ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. welcomed the delegation and thanked them for visiting the Commission. He reiterated that the ACC is an independent institution, operating within the rule of law and closely coordinating with the justice sector as part of the Justice Sector Coordination team. The Commissioner admitted being a strong advocate of purposivism in legal interpretation, and commended the ECOWAS Court ’ s rich and progressive jurisprudence, particularly in its responsiveness to evolving legal trends in the sub - region.