By: Patrick Hinga George, Public Education Officer, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Kenema Regional Office intensified its outreach efforts in Kailahun District on the 2nd and 4th September 2025 by holding a series of community stakeholders’ meetings in Kangama, Koindu, and Daru. These engagements brought together traditional leaders, youths, women’s representatives, and community influencers with the aim of recruiting them into the ongoing campaign against corruption and promot accountability, transparency, and integrity at the community level. The communities provided an open platform for frank dialogue, allowing communities to raise concerns about corruption and explore solutions to address them with the ACC.
Addressing the gatherings, ACC’s Kenema Regional Director, Madam Hawanatu O. Kamara, stressed that corruption deeply affects local communities, as resources meant for development and the provision of much needed social amenities are diverted and mismanaged. She highlighted how schools are deprived of teaching and learning materials, health centers lack essential drugs, medicines, and supplies, and communities remain without basic infrastructure due to corrupt practices. Madam Kamara called on chiefs and stakeholders to lead by example, serving as the first line of defense against corruption by upholding integrity and discouraging malpractice within their communities.
Madam Kamara further emphasized that sustainable development in Kailahun depends on transparency, accountability, and community participation. She encouraged stakeholders to robustly monitor the implementation of local projects, speak out against all suspected mismanagement, and demand accountability from leaders and service providers. Her call for collective responsibility was warmly welcomed, as community leaders pledged to work closely with the ACC as anti-corruption ambassadors in fostering a culture of integrity.
ACC’s Public Education Officer, Patrick Hinga George, sensitized participants on the devastating effects of corruption on local governance and rural development. He explained how misuse of resources intended for schools, health centers, and feeder road construction for instance can undermine development and community well-being, perpetuates poverty, and robs future generations of opportunities. He urged stakeholders to resist, reject, and report corruption using the ACC’s established reporting channels, assuring them of confidentiality and protection for whistle-blowers.
Prevention Officer, Mrs. Abiebatu Abu-Mattia, stressed the importance of proactive measures to curb corruption before it occurs. She underscored the role of local structures such as ward, village, town, and chiefdom development committees, and community-based organizations in monitoring the utilization of resources in a transparent and effective way. She further advised stakeholders to adopt systems like open community meetings, citizen oversight of projects, and community scorecards to strengthen accountability and foster trust among residents.
ACC’s Investigation Officer, Andrew Komeh, explained some of the provisions in the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as amended in 2019. He outlined offences such as bribery, misappropriation of funds, abuse of office, abuse of position, misappropriation of public and donor resources, conflict of interest, etc, emphasizing that the penalties for them were severe, including fines, and or imprisonment. Mr. Komeh assured participants of the ACC’s commitment to investigate and prosecute offenders while urging communities to partner with the Commission by providing credible information to support investigations.
Paramount Chief Emmanuel Nyumah Ganawah III of Kissi Teng Chiefdom in his statement, welcomed the ACC’s visit and pledged to mobilize his people in support of transparency, accountability, and the work of the ACC. In Daru, Jawei Chiefdom in the Kailahun District, Paramount Chief Musa Ngubukla Kallon II raised concerns over a ceremonial cheque that was presented by the National Mineral Agency in December 2023, which, he said, has not been deposited into the Chiefdom Development Account since the. He asked the ACC’s to intervene and ensure that development funds reach their intended beneficiaries and are judiciously utilized, as he underscored the importance of protecting community resources.
