By: Hawa Deen Conteh, Public Education Officer, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has on Tuesday, 13th May 2025 held an awareness raising event targeting prospective beneficiaries of the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project at the Lumpa Community Hall in Waterloo, with beneficiaries drawn from Lumpa and Monkey Bush communities in the Western Rural District.
The event aimed at educating the community members, most of whom are among the poorest and most vulnerable, on what to expect from the project, how to utilize the support responsibly, and the role of the ACC in ensuring transparency in the project.
Public Relations Assistant, ACC, Alex A. Bah, explained the responsibilities of beneficiaries, urging them to make good use of the support they will receive when disbursements begin. “Use the monies diligently and responsibly,” he advised, emphasizing that the success of the project largely depends on how beneficiaries manage the assistance. Mr. Bah also spoke on the work of the ACC and encouraged them to support the fight against corruption, especially at the community level.
Western Rural District Coordinator of the ACC, Elizabeth Charles, provided insights into the processes that have already been undertaken, including the baseline survey and the verification of potential beneficiaries. She explained that only individuals and households who meet the criteria -primarily the poorest of the poor -will benefit from the Social Safety Net (SSN) and economic inclusion components. She added that while some households may qualify for both forms of support, others will receive only one, depending on their situation. “Environmentally harmful businesses such as charcoal production will not be supported,” she said.
In his remarks, Julius Kamara, District Monitor Western Rural, underscored the importance of accountability in development projects. “When the World Bank rates a project as satisfactory, it means the project is delivering,” he said. He added that the ACC’s involvement has significantly contributed to the productivity and sustainability of the PSSNYE project. “Deserving individuals are now getting what they truly deserve. This project is for the poorest of the poor, and we are here to ensure fairness,” he concluded.
Also addressing the gathering, Hawa Deen Conteh, Public Education Officer, ACC, emphasized the importance of reporting corruption and encouraged community members to use the Commission’s toll-free lines of 077985985, 077986986 and 8515 (all mobile networks) to report any malpractice. She reminded attendees that community participation to safeguard the integrity of the project is key to its success.
The event ended with a question-and-answer session and the prospective beneficiaries profoundly commended the ACC for their presence and support to them and the project.
