By Dauda Koroma
Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday received a youth-focused report highlighting the impact of corruption on young people, calling for renewed and coordinated efforts to tackle graft in the country.
The report, titled “Stolen Futures: How Corruption Hurts Young People,” was developed with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and presented by the Zero Corruption Campaign (ZCC) at the ACC’s Integrity House in Freetown.
ZCC Executive Director Elison John said the findings were drawn from consultations with young people who shared lived experiences of corruption, adding that the report includes practical recommendations and calls for localization to reflect national realities.
He said the initiative was part of broader youth engagement efforts aimed at strengthening anti-corruption advocacy.
Receiving the report, ACC Coordinator of Operations Patrick Sandi commended the collaboration, describing it as timely and important in the fight against corruption.
He said corruption continues to disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, including young people, and warned that it undermines opportunities and development prospects in the country.
Sandi said the report would serve as a guide for awareness and stronger action against corruption, which he described as a major threat to Sierra Leone’s future.
Deputy Campus Coordinator of ZCC at Milton Margai Technical University, Congo Cross, Ibrahim Keketoma Yamba, also urged greater inclusion of young people in anti-corruption efforts, saying youth should be seen as active stakeholders in governance and accountability processes.
The ACC reaffirmed its commitment to working with youth-led organizations and international partners to combat corruption and protect the country’s future workforce.
