By: Yangie Deborah Sesay, Public Education Officer, ACC
The fight against corruption in Sierra Leone is not just about suppressing and addressing individual acts of misconduct. It is about building, sustaining, and embracing systems that make integrity the norm and corruption the exception. True systems that make it hard for corruption to thrive. True sustainability in the fight can only be achieved when strong processes and due diligence are consistently followed.
Over the years, the Anti-Corruption Commission Sierra Leone (ACC-SL) has recognized that corruption itself is not always the core problem, it is the weak systems that create loopholes for corruption to thrive. That is why the Commission, through its Corruption Prevention Department, works with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to establish proper systems and processes that will reduce the opportunities for corruption to thrive.
Through these interventions the Commission can boast of tangible results. One of the most remarkable success stories comes from the Milton Margai of Technical University (MMTU). In 2022, following allegations of mismanagement or resources and other malpractices, the ACC’s Corruption Prevention Department carried out a comprehensive Systems and Processes Review in the operations of the public university.
While there were no clear acts constituting corruption were detected, significant systemic weaknesses were identified in governance, internal controls, and oversight structures, and the Commission made strong tangible recommendations to be acted upon by the MMTU.
By 2023, MMTU had been given 95 recommendations across 21 thematic areas. In an extraordinary show of commitment, the University implemented 93 of these recommendations yielding a staggering 98% compliance rate. This transformation not only closed loopholes but also strengthened governance, accountability, and institutional credibility. The case of MMTU is a proof that when institutions embrace systems, they can set themselves on a sustainable path to integrity, efficiency, and resilience.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama once reminded Africans that “Africa does not need strong men; it needs strong institutions.” I agree with this assertion, but with an important caveat: strong institutions cannot exist without strong men and women to design, build, uphold, and defend them. Therefore, the need for us to have strong people to embrace the systems and work for the good cannot be over-emphasized.
Indeed, strong people drive strong institutions. Take, for example, the leadership of Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala, whose stewardship at the ACC has redefined the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone to the admiration of many within and without the continent of Africa.
Under his leadership, the introduction of the non-conviction asset-based recovery approach has ensured accountability by reclaiming stolen public wealth and properties, even without lengthy court proceedings. This initiative has strengthened institutional credibility and delivered visible results, proving that effective leadership fuels stronger systems.
At the ACC, we believe that people are the greatest asset in the fight against corruption. Institutions will only be as effective as the individuals who commit themselves to transparency, accountability, and the common good.
Fighting corruption is not the sole task of one person or one institution; it is a collective responsibility. Here, the African philosophy of Ubuntu “I am because we are” offers guidance. We can only succeed in the fight against corruption when leaders, public officials, and ordinary citizens take ownership of processes and commit to doing what is right and strengthen the systems that hold us all together.
Have you been appointed to an institution where things are not working because of weak systems? The Anti-Corruption Commission is only a call away. Let us help put systems in place and ensure they are followed. Even the smallest shift in process can set in motion the change we all desire.
Corruption is not defeated in a day; it is defeated every day when we choose systems over shortcuts and collective progress over personal gain. Together, through strong systems, committed individuals, and the spirit of Ubuntu, Sierra Leone can win and sustain the fight against corruption.
