By Patrick Hinga George
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Eastern Regional Office on the 3rd February 2025, engaged community stakeholders in Blama Town, Small Bo chiefdom, Kenema district, including local court authorities, pupils and staff of St. Joseph’s Secondary and the Ahmadiyya Secondary Schools in the township. The engagement with the schools is part of the Commission’s‘Meet the School’ campaign.
Explaining the purpose of the meeting with the local courts, ACC’s Public Education Officer (PEO), Patrick Hinga George, said itwas aimed atincreasing awareness on the destructive impacts of corruption, ensuring that all sectors of society work together towards a more transparent, fair, and accountable future and above all,strengthen the fight against corruption within local communities.
MrGeorgeunderscored the importance of collaboration between various community groups and the ACC in addressing corruption. He emphasized that while the Commission is at the forefront of the fight, the battle cannot be won alone by the ACC. He therefore called on the stakeholders to note that their active involvement in the fight against corruption is crucial, as corruption often manifests at all levels of society.
Senior Public Education Officer (SPEO), Edward N. Blake,provided an in-depth analysis of the destructive nature of corruption.Mr. Blake painted a vivid picture of destruction of lives and property for 11 years in Sierra Leone as a result of corruption and how same hinders progress and stifles development.
Mr.Blake further stressed that corruption impacts every sector, from education and healthcare to infrastructure and security. He explained that, in many cases, corrupt officials misappropriate public funds intended for essential services, misuse their offices and positions, leading to poor public service delivery. According to the SPEO, such inhumane activities create a cycle of underdevelopment, poverty, and inequality, which then undermines public trust, making it a recipe foranarchy as was seen in the decade-long civil war in the country.
Prevention Officer (PO), Abibatu Abu Mattia, highlighted the importance of adherence to established regulations in preventing corruption. Mrs. Mattia provided several examples of how simple lapses in following rules and regulations could lead to corruption. According to the Prevention Officer, the improper handling of public funds,and failure to follow procurement processes, could be the starting points for corrupt practices.
She also emphasized the importance of transparency in decision-making processes, noting that when decisions are made behind closed doors without accountability, the risk of corruption increases significantly. Mrs.Mattia’s message was clear: “Preventing corruption begins with strict adherence to the rules, and all public servants must take responsibility for maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in your work,” she concluded.
ACC’s Eastern Regional Manager, Peter Baio Kamara, took a more direct approach by warning stakeholders, particularly chairmen of thelocal courts one and two who were present, about the severe legal and financial consequences of corruption within the judiciary. Mr.Kamara’s remarks were aimed at the critical role that judicial officers play in ensuring fairness and justice in the legal system.
The Regional Manager highlighted the issue of exorbitant court finesasone that is becoming a point of concern in the region. He cautioned that while fines are a legitimate tool for enforcing laws, they should not be used as a means of exploiting vulnerable people. He therefore urged the stakeholders present at the event to adopt practices that foster transparency and fairness in the judicial process, thus ensuring that justice is delivered without bias in order to foster community cohesion.
Earlier, while welcoming the team from ACC, Chairman of Local Court No. 1, Chief Morie S. Bawoh referred to the meeting as timely and prudent in the fight against corruption. He further reaffirmed that combating corruption should not just be the responsibility of the ACC, but one that must be embraced by the entire community. He concluded by expressing huge appreciation to the ACC team and pledged unwavering support on behalf of the Regent Paramount Chief, Chief Ishmeal M. S. Koroma who was unavoidably absent.
Prior to the Community Stakeholder’s meeting, the ACC team engaged pupils and staff ofSt. Joseph’s Secondary and Ahmadiya Secondary schools in what is described as the “Meet the Schools Campaign.” The said engagement createdan interactive conversation about the importance of integrity and ethics, focusing on young people.The ACC’s continued ongoing efforts areaimedat instilling values of honesty and accountability from an early age, setting the foundation for future generations to lead with transparency and fairness and to adopt behaviors and practices that support the national agenda of fighting corruption in all its forms.
The engagement was climaxed by interactive question and answer sessions.
