By Ibrahim Bah
Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has stepped up its nationwide anti-graft campaign with a high-level
engagement involving Paramount Chiefs and chiefdom authorities in Kailahun District, as it seeks to strengthen accountability within traditional governance structures.
The engagement, held on Tuesday at the Kailahun District Council Hall, focused on promoting integrity, transparency and ethical leadership among traditional authorities, whom the ACC views as key actors in local governance and justice delivery.
Speaking at the event, ACC Operations Coordinator Patrick Sandi said the initiative was aimed at integrating traditional leaders into the national fight against corruption, citing their influence as custodians of culture, justice and community trust.
Sandi said the commission had identified areas where traditional leaders frequently face ethical challenges, particularly concerning the receipt of gifts, inducements and compliance with asset declaration requirements. He added that these issues had been prioritised in the ACC’s public education efforts.
He also disclosed that the ACC is part of a steering committee working toward the restoration of local courts to Paramount Chiefs, a move he said reflects the commission’s recognition of the authority and responsibilities of traditional leadership.
ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala told the gathering that the participation of Paramount Chiefs was critical to the country’s anti-corruption drive, noting that their close interaction with local communities placed them in a strategic position to influence ethical behaviour.
He urged traditional leaders to familiarise themselves with provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act relating to the declaration and management of assets and gifts, saying prevention remained one of the most effective tools in tackling corruption.
Kaifala said corruption thrives in environments characterised by unchecked discretion, monopoly of power and weak oversight, and stressed the need to address these conditions at the local level.
During an interactive session, Paramount Chiefs welcomed the engagement, saying it had helped clarify concerns and misconceptions surrounding the assets declaration regime. Several chiefs pledged to comply with asset declaration requirements applicable to public officers.
Speaking on behalf of the chiefs, Foday Musa Nyadebo Gbogboto II of Jahn Chiefdom called for sustained dialogue with traditional leaders to address governance and development challenges in rural communities.
Kailahun District Council Chairman Sahr Kekeh Lamin described the assets declaration system as a safeguard that protects public officials from unfounded allegations about their wealth, while Senior District Officer Alpha M. Sowa said the fight against corruption required collective national responsibility.
The ACC has been expanding its outreach to local authorities as part of broader efforts to strengthen governance and public confidence in state institutions.
