By Public Education and Outreach, ACC
Beneficiaries of the Social Safety Net (SSN) program have in the sensitisation meetings in Mattru, Jong chiefdom, Bonthe district and Gondama, Tikonko chiefdom, Bo district commended the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for its role in the program, in ensuring that the direct cash transfer process is devoid of corruption and corrupt practices.
These sentiments were expressed by Jeneba Cole, HawaTarawally, KadaraWahab and FodaySamah, on Wednesday14th and Thursday, 15th July, 2021, at the community centres in Mattru and Gondama, whilst the ACC met with them to sensitise on the purpose, their role as beneficiaries and that of the ACC in the SSN program.
Jeneba Cole, a beneficiary of 57 years said, with the SSN funds, she took her sick mother to the Hospital, where she regained her health, noting also that, she used the money to educate her children and that currently she is a proud person with resources to take care of her needs-thanks to the World Bank, the National Commission for Social action (NaCSA) and the ACC, she added.
In his presentation to the beneficiaries, Director of Public Education and Outreach, ACC Patrick Sandi also thanked them for their recognition of the good work of the ACC, admonishing them to remain focused and utilize the funds in the best way expected. He furthered that, the Commission is only accountable to the people of Sierra Leone, which is why, the Head of ACC, Francis Ben KaifalaEsq., recently embarked on Town Hall meetings across the country, interacting with people-from Bonthe, Sherbro Island to Kono, Kambia to MongorBendugu (Falaba), Moyamba to Magburaka and Kamakwie to Koindu explaining to them the work of the ACC, the gains made so far and challenges faced, and asked for feedback. Director Sandi catalogued the many interventions the Commission has made in ensuring that beneficiaries receive the full amount of money due them. He updated his audiences on the recovery of stolen funds in the tune of over Thirty (30) Billion Leones from the corrupt, a hotel in Koidu City-now a facility used by KonoDiCOVERC, and the tremendous progress made in Local and International Corruption Perception Indexes.
In her interaction with the beneficiaries, Christiana F. Jusu, Public Education Officer ACC, encouraged them to be vigilant in their communities. She said, though the ACC was on sensitization in regard the SSN/GRM program, it will also discuss the broader issues relating to the fight against corruption in the country. Madam Jusu underscored that, corruption and poverty are two bed-fellows; where there is extreme poverty, corruption is the cause, and also where there is endemic corruption, poverty is rife. She therefore, called on the beneficiaries who are receiving the cash support because of their vulnerable and very poor state to take the fight against corruption very seriously, as a successful fight against corruption will transform their lives and circumstances.
Sinatu Bangura, National Youth Service Corps, cum Public Education Officer, dilated on ACC’s role in the SSN/GRM program, which she said, is to increase public awareness, enlighten beneficiaries on the benefits and impact of the program on the people, and empower them on the redress mechanisms available to address challenges in the implementation process. Madam Bangura implored her listeners to report all suspected incidences of corruption and/or unsatisfactory conduct to the ACC, through the Community and District Monitors, the Regional Office in Bo or call 515 which is Toll Free.
Earlier in their remarks at the two engagements where they served as Chairpersons, District Monitor Bonthe District, David Garrick and the Data Entry Operator, Bo District, Andrew Forbie said, the SSN program is meant to alleviate the conditions of the extremely poor and vulnerable people, especially those seriously hit by the COVID 19 pandemic. David and Andrew stated that, the SSN/GRM is the World Bank and the Government of Sierra Leone funded program, with NaCSA implementing, Rokel Commercial Bank giving the cash directly to beneficiaries in their communities, and the ACC leading in ensuring that sanity and integrity are center-piece to the entire process.
The Section Chiefs of Njagbla-2 Section in Tikonko Chiefdom and Sopan-Cleaveland Section in Jong Chiefdom, Foday S. Kanneh and Osman Vandy respectively, in their statements thanked the Government of Sierra Leone and the World Bank for the cash support to their people. They however, requested for an increase in the quota of beneficiaries as a lot more people in their communities are very poor, remain vulnerable, and their situations are really pathetic.
The outreach events in Mattru and Gondama Towns, were climaxed by the handing over of SSN/GRM-COVID 19 Information, Education and Communication materials to the Community and District Monitors for display in beneficiary communities.
The SSN program targets thirty five thousand households nationwide, where beneficiaries will each receive the sum of One Million, Three Hundred and Nine Thousand Leones (Le1,309,000.00) for each quarter.
