By Politico staff writer
A statement from the Anti-Corruption Commission, ACC has announced a recognition of its Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala by the United States Department of State as the International Anti- Corruption Champion of 2020.
The announcement of the award by the US Department of State on Tuesday 23rd February 2021 at the US Embassy in Freetown was in recognition of his “outstanding commitment” to the prevention, exposure, and combating of corruption as the head of Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission.
The statement noted that the Department specifically highlighted the Commission’s achievements in fairly fighting corruption by holding the past government officials accountable while also taking robust action to address corruption in the current administration of President Julius Maada Bio who appointed him.
It also noted that the department also highlighted the cases investigated and prosecuted, the very high convictions secured, interventions to address systems weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, which resulted in the protection of public revenues and improved service delivery and the huge unprecedented public funds recovered in less than two years – more specifically in 2020.
It also notes the massive progress the country continues to make in International indexes, like Transparency International, Afrobarometer, Millennium Challenge Corporation; and also, the reduction in the cases of bribery and corruption in the country.
Reacting to the news of the Award, the ACC Commissioner thanked the US Government, particularly the US Embassy in Sierra Leone for the recognition, adding that “When a credible institution like the US Department of State recognizes you for the work you do as Head of an Anti-graft Agency, you can only payback by continuing to put more robust efforts into the campaign in an impartial, fair and fearless manner”.
He also expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Sierra Leone, especially President Bio, for the confidence reposed on him to lead the country’s anti-corruption efforts adding that the honour was for his staff and the people of Sierra Leone.
This recognition comes in less than one month when Commissioner Kaifala was elected member of the Africa Union Advisory Board on Corruption.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online
