The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Public Education Unit in Bo has, on Wednesday28th August, 2024, engaged staff and management of the Regional Rice Value Chain Project (RRVCP) in order to embolden them to mainstream corruption prevention safeguards in their day-to-day operations. The meeting was held at the Conference Room of RRVC’s project office at Gbaima Road, Bo City.
Speaking to staff of the project, ACC’s Senior Public Education Officer, Abdulai Saccoh underscored the significance of the meeting and described it as a frank conversation meant to convey corruption control measures. Saccoh recognized that despite the capital and human resources that have been invested in the agriculture sector by the Government of Sierra Leone and its development partners, it will be unproductive if its programs and projects are inundated with corruption. He admonished them to strictly adhere to due processes and procedures in the utilization and management of project resources.
Saccoh further emphasized that some of the challenges encountered over the years in rice production, process and the distribution chain can only be fixed when an uncompromising posture is displayed against corruption. Saccoh shed light on how the successful implementation of this project will improve the livelihood situation of Sierra Leoneans.
Mr. Saccohfurthered that diversion of subsidized inputs, demanding of percentages from contractors and vendors in exchange for undue advantage, bloating the number of project beneficiaries, misuse of public property, tax evasion, over invoicing, bribe solicitation, abuse of discretionary power, receipt falsification, short payment of participants in workshops and over invoicing are some of the thorny issues that have the tendencies to derail successful project implementation. The Senior Public Educator dilated on some of the offences in the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019 and noting that, upon conviction the penalties are; a fine of not less Fifty Thousand Leones or imprisonment of not less than five years or both such fine and prison term.
ThePublic Education Officer, ACC, Mohamed Abdulai Kabba emphasized the need for the staff to uphold integrity as the Commission remains committed to crack down on rogues who seek to wreak havoc on the project. Mr. Kabba underscored that for more rice to reach the masses, stringent monitoring mechanisms should be enforced to ensure that all stakeholders adhere to the project underlining goals and objectives. He also stated that high yield rice production can be achieved when farmers have equal access to high yield seeds variety, training in modern farming techniques, access to agro base industrial inputs, and proper storage facilities. He called on them to employ the right strategy to help reduce post-harvest losses and subsequently enhance rice availability and stimulate economic growth and investment.
Earlier in the meeting, the Project Coordinator, RRVC project, Abdulai Bun Wai commended the ACC’s public education drive which seeks to help broaden their knowledge on anti-corruption measures. Mr. Wai called on his colleagues to put into action best practices and to stay away from dishonest practices that have the ability to either ruin or bring the project to a halt.
He affirmed that, the RRVC project is positioned to meet not only local demands, but also to increase rice production that will make local farmers become major players in the international rice market. Mr. Wai also asserted that this intervention will open up new export opportunities, create jobs, boost the incomes of local farmers and encourage them to adapt the practice of returning some greater portion of seed rice as sucker to the RRVC project office as agreed in the contract.
Concluding the meeting,Public Education Officer, ACC, David Garrick called on his audience to rekindle their commitment to continue working together to surmount the prevailing challenges. Garrick also said corruption can be defeated if people discontinue to provide the incentives for such despicable acts to thrive. He entreated the participants to resist, reject and report corrupt practices to the ACC. The Public Educator assured them of informant/whistleblower protection but however, warned against making false or malicious reports.
A question and answer session formed the highpoint of engagement.
