By Joe Turay
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has brought into force new regulations aimed at strengthening protection for whistleblowers and witnesses who expose corruption, the commission said on Monday.
The Whistleblower and Witness Protection Regulations, 2025, made under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019, establish legal safeguards for individuals who disclose corruption or provide evidence in the public interest, the ACC said in a statement.
Under the regulations, whistleblowers and witnesses who face threats, intimidation or retaliation can apply directly to the commission for protection. The ACC is required to make decisions within set timelines and may grant urgent interim protection where lives or property are at risk.
Approved applicants will enter binding protection agreements with the commission, allowing for measures such as physical security, relocation and, in some cases, concealment or change of identity. Special provisions apply to children, subject to oversight by the High Court and guided by the best interests of the child.
The regulations also introduce a reward and compensation system. Whistleblowers whose information leads to the successful exposure of corruption may receive monetary or non-monetary rewards, while those who suffer retaliation — including dismissal, demotion or discrimination — are entitled to compensation. Individuals convicted of retaliatory acts face sanctions, including mandatory removal from office, the commission said.
Attempts to obstruct protection measures, intimidate protected persons or suppress disclosures are criminalised, while information relating to whistleblowers and witnesses is subject to strict confidentiality, with limited exceptions.
The ACC said the regulations align Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption framework with international standards, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.
The commission thanked the government, parliament and the attorney general’s office for supporting the adoption of the regulations and said it remained committed to strengthening the country’s anti-corruption efforts.
