By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has requested for Local Councils, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that function within various Councils, for their inputs and suggestions for inclusion into the 2024-2028 Anti-Corruption strategic document.
The Commission had convened a meeting in Kenema on the 26th January, 2024 with some stakeholders in attendance.
Manager of the Anti-Corruption national strategy document, Wilfred Bangura told the gathering that based on the progress made by local councils from the previous years, it is incumbent on ACC to consult them again for development of a new strategy document. He reiterated that the performances of Councils and MDAs were rated scientifically and the ACC was happy to inform the public that councils are on a better footing in terms of compliance and execution of what was expected of them as measures to help fight corruption.
He stated that the commission raised four thematic areas that deal with human resource management, administration, procurement and internal audit within the councils that come from the auditor general’s report.
Bangura emphasized that the commission is looking for new ways for people to make recommendations on how they want public officers to be more accountable and to properly utilize public funds that are mostly provided by donors.
He expected local councils to come up with some challenges and proffer solutions or recommendations that will enhance the prevention of issues leading to corruption that will serve as reference point for the commission in curbing corruption in public institutions.
The Regional Manager of ACC Kenema, Peter Mbayo Kamara said the commission is getting the support of stakeholders in the district in terms of fighting corruption, saying they have recently charged former assistant finance officer of Eastern Technical University to court on 26 count of Corruption.
The Chairman of the Consultancy Committee, Kabay Koroma told the participants that ACC works in partnership with other credible institutions to look at the way forward and get the views of the people to fight corruption. He said that this is the fifth national anti-corruption strategy document that will sound the opinions of citizens on how to fight one of the enemies that put the country backwards in development. He implored on the participants to speak out their views on those things they want to see in the next five years under the national strategy document.
One of the participants - a civil society activist, Augustine Sannoh said the issue of corruption is becoming a ‘cancer’ especially when those in public office are involved in corrupt practices. He cited the recent Parliamentary saga and the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) matter which the public expected much to be done, saying that one of his recommendations to be in the document is that any public officer caught involved in corrupt matter should have their academic document withdrawn and the person banned for a period of seven years from holding any public office and must pay the fine to the State.
He urged ACC not to only base their investigations on corruption by law but to also sound the views of people against the particular person accused on their personal life style before, during and after holding public office.
Copyright © 2024 (Politico 31/01/24)
