By Sitta Turay
Alhaji Barbah Fortune, after many years in the civil service of Sierra Leone came to the headlamps of national publicity recently following the findings of the Commissions of Inquiry and the subsequent government White Paper. In his home district of Pujehun, the man from a very humble background is a treasure. His work in the service has taken him through many ministries under at least three dispensations.
When the Commission of Inquiry was instituted many people said a lot, including that this was all about making trouble for the past government while some said it was just a means to scare people away from massive corruption. As it turned out, people close to the present administration were trapped. Some were even sacked.
Barbah Fortune became one of the brave civil servants to step down from his position as Secretary to the Vice President and follow the due process of the law. He appealed the conclusions of the government White Paper and in reasonably good time, judgment came and Alhaji Barbah Fortune was vindicated. He left the court a clean man, his reputation fully restored.
Looking closer at the brave action of Barbah Fortune, one lesson stands out – people should be prudent at their job to avoid disgrace. For one to avoid being corrupt also helps in this kind of situation. That is the reason Barbah Fortune confidently took his case to the Court of Appeal. It is not at all times Sierra Leoneans must display wealth derived from institutional thieving. The rest of Sierra Leoneans must learn from the “Barbah Fortune” example. When one is not a thief, there is nothing to fear.
People mentioned in the COI are not copying what Barbah has done but they are busy spreading bad news thinking that they will gain sympathy from the public which might influence action on the outcome of the COI. Such a thinking and behavior pattern might harm them for the rest of their lives. Those who resist the rule of law harm no one but themselves. If there is a strong conviction that no wrongdoing occurred then the court system remains the main vehicle to clear one’s name. Playing the blame game and politicizing things will change nothing. Employing secret society members to avoid political accountability cannot hold.
One of the important and most effective ways to detect and investigate corruption is to analyze information and documentation before bringing a case to the courts. This is especially useful in cases where corruption is believed to have taken place.
This COI had the duty to analyze accounts, payment documents, conditions in contracts and other corporate transactions to use as evidence and that was meticulously done. That said, the COI had its recommendations which is subject to challenge in the Court of Appeal. That is what Barbah Fortune did and has come out clean. Others, especially some members of the previous government, are hanging on thin wires and flimsy political excuses to make the COI look bad and they are all losing in the process.
Corruption is committed by persons to gain money and property, therefore depriving them of these proceeds of crime is fundamental to a successful anti-corruption investigation. That is the route the COI will take at the end of it all. It will serve as a warning to others and will be written in our history books that someone came to power and chased corrupt officials of the previous administration. Do not allow that to happen to you, do what Barbah has done.
On the wider question of fighting corruption, there should be a serious re-think of strategy and I don’t see any reason why the ACC is not taking advantage of the new digital environment of the 21st century to aid their investigators.
The police, some judicial officers, NRA and road safety corps (traffic Wardens) have become fearless in accepting petty bribes. They do it in public. Sierra Leoneans cannot afford to continue to live in such condition which should be the reason for the ACC to treat this issue with all seriousness.
At Mile 38 for example everyone sees the corrupt operations of the Police at that checkpoint. At Pedemba roads courts, even sweepers and so called caretakers of toilets are openly demanding money. They demand money from the public at a public toilet that is built from their taxes and no receipt is issued. It is called a minor issue but that is eating deep into the resources of mainly the people.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 07/05/21
