By Marcus Bangura
As part of its effort to combat corruption in the country, the Anti-Corruption Commission(ACC) on 25th January, 2024 engaged the Kroo-Town Road Market Women on anti-corruption issues. Such moves are germane considering the prevalence of corruption in the country at high places. Apart from government institutions, the ACC has considered it prudent to target the informal sector.
In this edition, C4D Media Newspaper look into report by Alhaji A.K Bangura, Senior Communications Officer, ACC of 27th January 2024.
See report by the ACC:
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on 25th January, 2024 engaged the Informal Sector-the Kroo-Town Road Market Women on anti-corruption issues.
In his presentation and opening remarks, the Chairman of the Kroo-town Road Market Area, Abdulai Bah, thanked the ACC for the tremendous efforts in curbing corruption in Sierra Leone, noting the recent achievements made singling out the recovery of Eight Billion, Six Hundred Million (Old) Leones (Le8.6BN) from some corrupt individuals.
Giving a comprehensive overview of the work of the Commission, the Head of the External Outreach Unit, ACC, Al-Hassay Sesay, emphasised on the recent achievements made by the Commission ranging from the recoveries made from the Ministry of Finance and Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) to the Hon. Umar Paran Tarawally and his wife issues. Mr. Sesay further encouraged the market women to partner with the ACC in the fight against
corruption. “A handsome reward will be given to whistle-blowers, and this is not the time to say nor to me biznes ; he averred. Earlier, whilst dilating on the purpose of the engagement, Senior Communications Officer, Alhaji A.K. Bangura told the market women that the Commission deemed it prudent to take the fight against corruption to challenging places in order to solicit the support of the people.
He emphasized that the Commission is now paying keen attention to the informal sector, especially the market women who are often not well informed of the work of the ACC and the ill-effects of corruption on their welfare and well-being.
Speaking on the role of market women in the fight against corruption, Public Education Officer, ACC, Shiaka Kamara explained that they should make sure the products they sell to members of the public are genuine and of the correct quality. He further said that the public is
concerned about the adulteration of palm and vegetable oil etc., which hinges on acts of wrongdoing that would amount to corrupt practices.
Further in his statement, he underscored that market women are very influential in their own domain as they have the capacity to create job opportunities for the youth and provide food security for citizens.
The women must resist any form of corruption and report any corrupt practices suspected, Mr. Kamara urged. Martina George, Communications Officer, ACC, in her submission, explained to the market women the methods of reporting any suspected acts of corruption. She furthered that, “This fight is not a one-man show. It’s a collective exercise, as collective efforts make progress and produce results. Climaxing the engagement and on behalf of the Commission, the Head of External Outreach Unit, Al-Hassan Sesay presented ACC-IEC materials to the market women.
In another development the ACC through Patrick Sandi, Director of Public Education and Research has issued a press release dated 26th January, 2024 informing the general public about the indictment of Sheku Abdulai Kamara, Assistant Finance Officer at the Eastern Technical University on 26th counts of corruption offenses for the misappropriation of tuition fees of 21 students amounting for NLE 75000.
The ACC press release reads:
‘’ACC indicts Sheku Abdulai Kamara, Assistant Finance Officer, Eastern Technical University on 26 counts of corruption offences, for the misappropriation of tuition fees of 21 students amounting to 75 million (old) Leones’
The corruption offences contraveneSection 36 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No.12 of 2008 as amended by the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2019.
The press release stated: ‘’According to the particulars of the various offences, SHEKU ABDULAI KAMARA, on diversedates, between January 2021 and December 2023, at Kenema, in the Eastern Region of theRepublic of Sierra Leone, misappropriated public funds amounting to Seventy-Five Million,One Hundred and Sixty-Seven Thousand (Old) Leones (Le75,167,000) received fromTwenty-One (21) Students as tuition fees for the Eastern Technical University’’
As the principle of presumption of innocence dictates, Sheku Kamara is presumed innocent until proven guilty before a competent court of law. Like the matter with the Clerk of Parliament’s wife, Hon. Paran Tarawallie who has been rumoured to have been stepped aside by Parliament, Abibatu Paran Tarawallie agreed to pay back the money paid to her account as salary for not working, alleged to have een surreptitiously orchestrated by her husband. In this situation, Sheku Abdulai Kamara, would be dragged to court, if he decides to go to Court or will not go to court, if he agrees to pay the amount siphoned. This implies corruption is not business as usual but a game of chance (win or loss).
The press release stated that ‘’SHEKU ABDULAI KAMARA is expected to appear in the High Court of Sierra Leone Holdenat Kenema on the 30th January, 2024’’.
‘’The Commission wishes to reassure the general public of its continued resolve to curbing public sector corruption and all levels of corruption in Sierra Leone’’ the press release says.
In a public notice dated 26th January, 2024, the ACC calls on public officers to declare their income, assets and liabilities as against deadline day, 31st March,2024.
According to the Public Notice: ‘’The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) wishes to remind all Public Officers that, pursuant to Section 119 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as amended in 2019, they are required to declare their income, assets and liabilities by the deadline date of 31 st March, 2024. Section 119 (1) provides that: “Every public officer shall, within three months of becoming a public officer, deposit with the Commission a declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and thereafter in every two years that he is public officer, but not later than 31st March of that second year, deposit further declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and also while leaving office.”
The Act required public officers to declare their assets include, Persons in elective offices; Persons appointed by the President; Public officers in grade 7 and above; and Public officers below grade 7 but with fiduciary (financial) responsibilities, such as bursars, etc. The Act also provided that principals, vice principals, head teachers, deputy head teachers and bursars formed the categories of teachers in Government and Government-assisted schools expected to declare their income, assets and liabilities during this declaration period (2024). Declaration of income, assets and liabilities are also expected of newly appointed/elected paramount chiefs and court chairmen and former public officers.
‘’The ACC further reminds all Public Officers who lately declared in 2023 for the 2022 Declaration Year that they are also required to declare for the year 2024 within the deadline of 31 st March, 2024’’.
The public notice further stated as provided in Section 122A (1), “A public officer who, without reasonable cause, fails to submit his Assets Declaration Form or knowingly records false, inaccurate, or misleading information in the Declaration Form shall, in addition to any other penalty imposed under this Act, be liable to administrative sanctions,” including a directive to withhold their Salaries, Pension/Benefits, Suspension, Dismissal and/or Criminal Prosecution’’
