By: Patrick Hinga George, Public Education Officer, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Regional Office in Kenema on Wednesday, 29th May, 2024 enlightened staff of Kenema Government Hospital on the dangers of corruption, during a customized meeting held at the Hospital Hall in Kenema City.
Explaining the purpose of the meeting, Senior Public Education Officer (SPEO), Edward N. Blake said, the ACC’s visit was to enlighten the staff of the Hospital on the dangers of corruption and at the same time empower them with integrity messages as they discharge their responsibilities to the public.
“In order to succeed in this fight, no segment should be left behind. And considering how significant your work is, it is prudent to have such engagement always so that you are made to clearly understand the destructive nature of corruption on society and the extent to which it negatively impacts our lives,” Mr. Blake furthered. The SPEO therefore encouraged the staff to feel relaxed and ask whatever questions they may need answers for in respect of the Commission’s operations. “This is the friendly face of the Commission and we are here to engage you in a family like discussion that will eventually lead to making our beloved country great”, he concluded.
ACC’s Public Education Officer, Patrick Hinga George, also emphasized on the dangers of corruption. According to the PEO, corruption is the ultimate enemy that has eaten deeply into the fabric of the country’s socio-economic development and has not only stagnated the socio-economic growth of Sierra Leone, but has deeply excerbated poverty.
While referencing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Report, Mr George informed his audience that corruption was a major factor for the 11-year civil war in Sierra Leone, reminding the staff of the carnages caused by such senseless and barbaric era and entreated them to stand very firm with the ACC in the fight against corruption.
“We succeeded in the fight against Ebola and the global pandemic –COVID-19 as a country because we listened to the advice from you medical practitioners. Corruption is multiple times dangerous than Ebola and COVID-19 put together. We therefore entreat you to listen to the ACC’s anti-corruption sermons by strongly upholding integrity in the discharge of your services to the public,” he concluded.
While explaining key corruption offences more likely to be committed by public officers, Senior Investigation Officer, Belinda Hebron stated that misappropriation of public funds or property, misappropriation of donor funds or property, abuse of office, abuse of position, conflict of interest, stand tall among others. She went further to enlighten them as to how the said offences are committed.
Ms. Hebron reminded them also of the need to constantly uphold integrity and high standards of professionalism in the discharge of their services to the public. As medical practitioners, you know you are not a pharmacy and therefore, your policy does not allow you to sell drugs to patients. Do not also take the free medical drugs supplies and sell them and above all, do not exploit your patients – uphold integrity, she emphasised.
In her conclusion, the Senior Investigation Officer outlined the corresponding penalties; a minimum fine of fifty thousand (new) Leones, five-year imprisonment and/or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the Judge.
Earlier, while welcoming the team from the ACC, the Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Abdulai Tejan Jalloh thanked the team from ACC and commended the good work of the Commission especially under the astute leadership of Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. He further expressed hope in winning the fight against corruption as a result of the overwhelming successes the ACC continues to record consistently in both national and international indexes.
“With this kind of good work, I am optimistic that the name Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will one day be changed to Integrity Compliance Commission (ICC) as corruption would have been a thing of the past,” he opined. He concluded by pledging an unwavering commitment on behalf of his team to the national fight against corruption.
An interactive plenary session formed part of the meeting.
