As a way of preventing and addressing incidences of corruption in the public service, the North-West Regional Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday 11th September, 2024 urged staff of the National Revenue Authority, the Sierra Leone Police and Forestry Guards attached at the Checkpoint to enhance best practices and uphold integrity in the exercise of their functions and operations.
According to the Public Education Officer Mohamed Thullah, the engagement was conducted to sensitize staff on the general work of the Commission, key corruption issues in the operations of the Team and solicit support from staff. He explained the three pronged approaches to the fight against graft.
Addressing public officers and volunteers at the Checkpoint, the Regional Manager, Fatu Florence Kamara pointed out that the checkpoint is located on one of the major entry point to the country along the Port Loko-Conakry Highway and noted that most times negative perceptions about the country are fuelled by the negative attitude of public officers attached to these entry points. She said corruption demands in exchange for expeditious customs procedures, extortion, and related security lapses have been a major public concern and the Commission is committed to addressing these corrupt practices. These conducts, she said, are in variance with ACC laws, professional ethics and core values for public service delivery. She encouraged them to resist corruption demands and demonstrate the highest form of integrity and ethical standards.
Manager Kamara went on to note that working at the checkpoint either on voluntary and on casual basis makes all of the staff public officers and by extension are covered by the ACC laws. "Volunteers are not above the law as they could be brought in for any corruption investigation," she emphasized. The Regional Head pointed out the Commission's strengthened posture through the 2019 amendment, which among other things has seen jail terms and fines increased to not less than five years and Fifty Thousand Leones respectively.
Explaining key corruption offences, ACC’s Public Education Officer Mohamed Thullah made a succinct presentation on corruption-related offences including corrupt acquisition of wealth, offering, soliciting and accepting advantage, abuse of office and position, misappropriation of public funds, conspiracy to commit a corruption offences, protection of public property and revenue among other things.
In his welcome remarks, Customs Officer Idrissa Kamara of the National Revenue Authority welcomed the ACC team and thanked them for taking a laudable initiative to engage and sensitize them on various matters of corruption adding that the sensitization meeting will help and guide their operations and will enhance collaboration. Mr. Kamara registered his commitment to continue to enhance best practices and to conform to operational guidelines and procedures. Similar sentiments were expressed by the Head of the Forestry Division Forest Guard, Alimamy Bangura.
Presentation of IEC materials and questions and answers session formed part of the engagement.
