As part of its mandate in the fight against corruption, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Regional Office in Kono on 9th May, 2024, held a customized meeting with Heads of Units of the Koidu Government Hospital in Koidu, Kono District. The Commission uses Public Education alongside Partnership, Coalition Building, Corruption Prevention, Intelligence and Investigation and Prosecution, among others, in the fight against corruption.
The meeting, which attracted over thirty Heads of Units and other senior staff, ended with a renewed call on them to robustly support the Commission in its relentless effort in eliminating every form of graft in their establishment.
Speaking on the purpose of the meeting, the ACC Regional Manager, Hawanatu O. Kamara said that her office has received many reports of medical staff asking for bribes from patients before and after services are rendered to them. The Manager described such allegations to be very serious and one of the reasons for the said meeting in order to remind them about the Commission’s zero tolerance posture in the fight against corruption. “I therefore admonish every one of you to ensure that best practices are adhered to in your day-to-day operations in the bid to deliver quality services to your various customers,” she furthered.
ACC’s Senior Public Education Officer in Kono, Sam P. Gogra, in his opening statement, informed the host team about similar engagements the Commission had been conducting in schools and other public institutions across the district with the view of encouraging the listeners to resist, reject and report corruption incidences in their respective institutions to the Commission. Mr Gogra said that such interactive engagements had always yielded positive results as the level of awareness raised on institutional corruption and its prevention is on the increase.
In his submission, Investigation Officer, Dauda Kakai, drew the attention of the healthcare workers to some of the offences enshrined in the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 (as amended in 2019) which fall within their purview. According to him, the host team must pay greater attention to abuse of office, soliciting and accepting an advantage, diversion of hospital property to private use, lateness and absenteeism from work, theft of drugs and other professional impropriety, among others.
Patricia Sannoh, ACC’s Public Education Officer Kono, pleaded with the participants to be reporting incidents of corruption in person to the 18 Sanssie Street Office in Koidu City or by calling the toll free lines of 077-985985,077-986986 for prompt action by the Commission.
Earlier, welcoming the team from ACC, the Medical Superintendent, Dr Emaudu O. Deen expressed delight at the relentless effort of the Commission in the fight against graft and the gains so far recorded.
Responding to the anti-corruption messages delivered to the healthcare workers, the Hospital Secretary, Joseph T. Kamara, described the meeting as timely and very educative and promised on behalf of his team to always uphold best practices in their operations.
