The people of Kalangba, in Gbendembu Ngowahun Chiefdom, Bombali District have pledged their unflinching support to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone.This was demonstrated at a sensitization meeting organised by ACC’s Northern Regional office on Friday 10th August 2012 at the Kalangba Court Barry.
Welcoming ACC staff on behalf of the chiefdom Pa Kapr Njai expressed appreciation to ACC for bringing the Commission closer to them. He noted that such engagement will go a long way to minimize corruption in the chiefdom and change negative public perception about the Commission.Explaining the purpose of the meeting, Public Education Officer Al-Hassan Sesay said it was meant to educate them on the dangers of corruption, work of the Commission and how corrupt practices in their communities can hinder the development of the chiefdom.
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| Manager ACC Patrick Sandi explaining key corrupt practices in the Kalangba community |
He expressed the Commission’s determination to take anti-corruption messages to all rural communities. Mr. Sesay furthered that the meeting was also meant to solicit their support in the fight against corruption as it is a national concern. He told the people of Kalangba that ACC alone cannot fight corruption in the country and therefore urged them to partner with the Commission in order to eradicate corruption in the country.
Speaking on the offences and penalties as contained in the 2008 Anti-Corruption Act, the Regional Manager Mr. Patrick Sandi told the people of Kalangba that the Act is not just for government employees but also covers the private sector. He emphasized that the Commission has the mandate to investigate all forms of corruption, no matter the amount of money or individual involved in it. Sandi highlighted some common corrupt practices in the school system, Free Health Care programme, local courts, chiefdom administration and the police, which he noted are offences in the 2008 Act.
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| Manager ACC North, Patrick Sandi highlighting corrupt practices in the community as contained in the AC Act 2008. |
He emphasized that the punishment for any of them is a fine of not less than thirty (30) million Leones or prison term of not less than three (3) years or both fine and prison term.
The Northern Regional Manager said the ACC exists not just to arrest and convict corrupt individuals but also to prevent corruption. He therefore called on them to desist from corrupt practices and change their negative attitudes for the development of Sierra Leone. Sandi told the people of Kalangba that if the fight against corruption is to succeed, they must be ready to resist, reject and report corruption. “Let us be serious about the fight against corruption, let us all support the ACC because it is for the people of this country” he mentioned.
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| Cross Section of participants at Kalangba |
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Newspaper in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
