By James Kamara
Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday engaged government institutions and stakeholders on the monitoring outcomes of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024–2028, calling for stronger implementation to improve results.
The meeting, held at ACC headquarters in Freetown, brought together Integrity Management Committee representatives, focal persons from ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), local councils and members of the NACS Steering Committee.
ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala said overall progress stands at 47%, describing it as moderate and below expectations, but expressed confidence that performance could improve with stronger commitment.
“A strong start is critical to success through to 2028,” Kaifala said, urging stakeholders to intensify efforts rather than be discouraged by the current performance.
He said disaggregated data would show varying levels of progress across institutions, allowing for targeted support and accountability where needed.
Deputy ACC Commissioner Augustine Foday Ngobie, who chaired the session, said the monitoring process is a national priority with oversight from the Steering Committee led by the vice president, and interest from the presidency.
He described the exercise as a preventive and collaborative effort aimed at strengthening governance systems and improving service delivery.
Mariama Navo, director of the NACS Secretariat, outlined the strategy’s four pillars — prevention, enforcement and compliance, public engagement, and coordination and monitoring — stressing that success would be judged by tangible impact.
Adonis Aboud, representing the Steering Committee, pointed to gaps in areas including road safety enforcement, vehicle certification, border control and pharmaceutical regulation.
Presenting detailed findings, ACC Senior Prevention Officer Moses Bangura said that although internal audit structures exist across many MDAs and local councils, their effectiveness remains limited due to capacity constraints, inadequate support and lack of independence.
He warned that these weaknesses continue to expose public institutions to risks of mismanagement and poor financial oversight.
Participants said the engagement provided an opportunity for dialogue and reflection, reinforcing the role of Integrity Management Committees in promoting accountability within public institutions.
