By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is said to have recovered the sum of NLE 35,483.62 (thirty-five million, four hundred and eighty-three thousand, sixty-two New Leones from high profile cases they successfully investigated between 2018-2022.
That was revealed by ACC Deputy Commissioner, Augustine Foday Ngobie at the budget hearing organised by the Ministry of Finance in Freetown.
He said the ACC recovered the sum of NLE 8,852,038 (eight million, eight hundred and fifty-two thousand, and thirty-eight New Leones) and NLE 11,290,060 (eleven million, two hundred and ninety thousand, and sixty New Leone) in 2019.
NLE 7,008,033 (seven million and eight thousand, and thirty-three New Leones) in 2020 and NLE 5,687,049 (five million, six hundred and eighty-seven thousand, and forty-nine New Leones) in 2021 were also recovered.
From January of this year 2022, he said the commission has collected NLE 2,644,082 (two million, six hundred and forty-four thousand, and eighty-two New Leones).
Commissioner Ngobie added that the ACC was able to successfully investigate high-profile cases in 2021 ranging from the building project of Sierra Leone’s Permanent Mission in New York to the embassies in Kenya, China, and the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) over procurement-related breaches.
He further said that the commission also investigated the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) for misappropriation of public funds, and some former ministers of government who failed to declare their assets, and the Gavi Project in the Ministry of Health.
For the first half of FY 2022, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized that they have so far monitored all 79 (seventy-nine) Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) Action plan. He pointed out that, 100 percent of those MDAs monitored have functional Integrity Management Committees (IMCs).
He added that they have completed the investigation of fake degree holders in the country and the misappropriation/ procurement breaches over European Union (EU) support funds to Kambia District Council. He also spoke about completed investigations into the HIV test kits in the Ministry of Health.
Ngobie then submitted a budget estimate of NLE 88,189.31 (eighty-eight million, one hundred and eighty-nine thousand, thirty-one New Leones) for FY 2023 of which the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) is expected to approve the sum of NLE 79,189,031 (seventy-nine million, one hundred and eighty-nine thousand, thirty one New Leones). The other NLE 9,000,000 (nine million New Leones) which is 0.98% he said is to be funded by donors.
Out of the aforesaid amount budgeted for FY 2023, Ngobie said the commission aims to achieve key deliverables like the completion of their Head Office Building, drafting of the National Anti- Corruption Strategy (NACS ) 2024-2029, and monitoring its implementation. He pointed out that they will undertake a number of projects including a system review of at least three MDAs and developing a service charter for 5 MDAs, in 2023.
He highlighted challenges such as lack of office space, inadequate allocation of Capital/Development expenditure from GOSL which he said resulted in inadequate ICT equipment and infrastructure.
He said that they are also faced with inadequate vehicles and motorcycles, inadequate resources for Staff training.
The Anti-Corruption Commission was established in the Year 2000 as an independent institution to lead in the fight against graft.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (12/10/22)
