1. 1 1 M o b i l e N o : 8 5 1 5 o n a l l N e t w o r k s

2. Page 2 The Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) Eastern Regional Office ’ s Prevention Unit in collaboration with the regional office ’ s Public Education Unit has held an inception meeting with senior management of the Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) and District Health Management Teams (DHMT) on the 13 th March 2025 in the hospital ’ s hall in Kenema. Explaining the purpose of the inception meeting, ACC ’ s Prevention Officer, Abibatu Abu - Matia, said the meeting aimed to officially inform and engage the key stakeholders about the pending thematic review of the Free Health Care (FHC) drugs the Commission intends to undertake, spanning the period from January 2023 to December 2024. The review, according to the Prevention Officer, will examine the following documents: delivery notes, store ledger, way - book, request receipt, store cards etc. The goal is to ascertain the effective distribution and utilization of the free healthcare drugs provided by the government. “ This initiative is part of a broader effort by the ACC to monito r and ensure that drugs meant for the public are distributed efficiently, used for their intended purpose, and not misappropriated or diverted, ” she said. The Eastern Regional Manager of the ACC, Peter Baio Kamara, dilated on the importance of integrity and accountability in the delivery of services, particularly in the health sector. He highlighted that the health ministry plays a crucial role in saving lives, and its capacity to function effectively and ethically is fundamental to the country ’ s overall development. Mr . Kamara urged the DHMT and hospital staff to reflect on their roles in the review process as frontliners in healthcare, taking into consideration that their work directly impacts the lives of Sierra Leoneans. He further entreated them to ensure that the life - saving drugs reach those in need as it would have a far - reaching impact on the health care system in Sierra Leone. Mr . Kamara reminded the stakeholders that the ACC ’ s role is not only to investigate and prosecute but also to promote and encourage ethical behaviour across all sectors of government. Public Education Officer, Patrick Hinga George, singled out misappropriation of public funds or property, misappropriation of donor funds or property, abuse of office, abuse of position, corrupt acquisition of wealth, possession of unexplained wealth and conflict of interest, as some of the key corruption offences mostly committed in the health sector. Mr . George further reminded them 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. Above all, do not exploit your patients, and make sure you uphold integrity at all times, ” he emphasised. Earlier, the District Medical Officer, Dr. Don- ald Grant, commended the good work of the Commission and expressed his full support for the review process. Dr. Grant acknowledged the importance of transparen- cy and accountability in the health sector and reassured the ACC that his team will cooperate fully with the review. “ We recognize the importance of accountabil- ity, and we are committed to making sure that the review process is conducted with honesty and transparency. We will do everything we can to ensure that the review is successful, and the necessary improvements are made ,” Dr. Grant added. An interactive plenary session formed part of the meeting. By: Patrick Hinga George, Public Education Officer ACC ’ s Eastern Regional Manager Peter Baio Kamara making a statement ACC and DHMT staff after the engagement

4. Page 4 The Director of Public Education and External Outreach Department, ACC, Patrick Sandi , who also served as the Chairman of the event, in his welcome statement, said the ACC believes in the importance of partnership in the fight against corruption. He encouraged GM - Net to put in efforts to maintain accountability and transparency in their day - to - day activities as they are now ambassadors of the ACC. According the citation of the MoU, read by the Information Officer, ACC, Amie Massaquoi, the ACC and GM - Net have agreed to complement each other ’ s efforts in the fight against corruption especially in areas where their respective mandates are interrelated, including educating the public on corruption, its ill - effects, the benefits of a corrupt - free society , and integrity in public life. The signing of the MoU by the Deputy Commissioner of ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie and the Ex ecutive Director of GM - NET, Timothy A. Moses, climaxed the event. B y : A m i e M a s s a q u o i , I n f o r m a t i o n O f f i c e r , A C C Contd. From Page 1 The 2024 Asset Declaration Compliance Rate reflects the level of adherence to asset declaration requirements among public officials, demonstrating huge progress while identifying areas for improvement. The accompanying infographics illustrate that out of 17,253 staff across 182 institutions, 15,712 officials (91.1%) successfully declared their assets, while 1,541 (8.9%) defaulted. This strong compliance rate signals growing adherence to anti - corruption policies but also highlights the need for increased enforcement. The compliance rates across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are as follows: 52 MDAs achieved 100% compliance. 51 MDAs recorded 90 - 99% compliance. 66 MDAs had 50 - 89% compliance. 13 MDAs fell below 50%, indicating poor adherence. While many MDAs have shown commendable compliance, some institutions still lag, requiring closer monitoring. Comparative Analysis (2009 - 2024) A review of asset declaration trends over the years shows fluctuations in compliance. While initial years saw higher declaration targets, actual submissions often fell short. Recent years, however, indicate improvement, with compliance figures stabilizing as enforcement mechanisms strengthen. The trend analysis shows that while a significant number of MDAs meet or exceed 50% compliance, a small fraction still struggles with adherence. The goal remains to push all institutions towards full compliance. The pie chart analysis shows that a majority (91.1%) of staff complied, while 8.9% defaulted. Although the compli- ance rate is impressive, the existence of defaulters indi- cates the need for stricter measures, more awareness campaigns, and accountability mechanisms. The Anti - Corruption Commission remains committed to en- hancing transparency and accountability by ensuring full compliance with asset declaration laws. These insights will guide future enforcement strategies and policy improvements.

3. Page 3 B y : B e r n a r d A b a s s K a r g b o , P u b l i c E d u c a t i o n O f f i c e r - A C C The Public Education and Outreach Unit of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) Southern Region office has held a community sensitization meeting on general corruption issues affecting community development with residents and traditional authorities of Koribondo Town, Jaiama Chiefdom, Bo District. The event took place at the Native Court Barray, Koribondo Town, on Thursday 13th March, 2025. In his statement, ACC ’ s Southern Regional Manager, Momodu Sittar, admonished the Koribondo residents to embrace the fight against corruption, as service delivery will be seriously undermined if they choose to turn a blind eye to such practices. Mr Sittar guaranteed them of ACC's willingness to hold the corrupt accountable for the untold suffering meted out on citizens and society as a result of their corrupt acts. He explained some of the offences in the Anti - Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019. He stated that, upon conviction, the penalty for each offence is a fine of not less than fifty thousand (new) leones or jail term of not less than five years or face both such fine and prison term. Speaking at the meeting, ACC Senior Public Education Officer, Abdulai Saccoh, said that “ peace and development will not thrive in any community where corruption is endemic. He underscored the essence of taking social services to rural communities, but said it seems certain public sector institutions are being used as extortion points. Mr . Saccoh catalogued a number of corrupt practices that people may have been suffering from due to ignorance and inaction. He encouraged the people of Koriboondo and its environs not to settle for less by demanding for more account- ability from duty - bearers. He called on all to attach more commitment to the fight against corruption. While elaborating on the purpose of the meeting earlier, ACC ’ s Public Education Officer, Mohamed A. Kabba, noted that such meetings usually serve as a vital platform for the ACC to directly engage with community members, addressing the specific challenges posed by corruption within rural communities. Mr. Kabba added that the engagement is critical to foster sustainable community development and to educate the public about anti - corruption laws. He encour- aged them to report corrupt practices to the Commission as it works to control and reduce corruption and ensures that resources are judiciously uutilized for community development. The Paramount Chief, Jaiama Chiefdom, Pa Foday Bassie Karteh called on his people to take heed to ACC ’ s anti - corruption messages. He encouraged them to be more vigilant and be overseers of all community - driven development projects for the good of all. He assured the Commission of their willingness to speak and stand against corruption. Meanwhile, the ACC team also shared integrity messages with pupils and teach- ers of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Secondary and the Jaiama Bongor Secondary Schools, cautioning them to refrain from participating in all forms of academic malpractices as their negative consequences are grave and damaging. The ACC Team shared with them the various reporting channels and implored them to increase their vigilance for improved service delivery, better infrastructure, and enhanced quality of life for residents. A question - and - answer session and the presentation of information, education and communication materials to the Paramount Chief climaxed the event. ACC Regional Manager, South, Mo- modu Sittar® and Paramount Chief, Jaiama Chiefdom, Pa Foday Bassie Karteh (L) as his hands over the IEC Materials to the PC. The ACC Team and pupils of Jaiama Bongor Secondary School in photo at the end of the sensitization engagement.