Welcoming participants, Senior Investigations Officer ACC, Momodu Sittar said the meeting was organized to raise awareness around revenue generation and its implications on economic growth. He stressed that, the engagement was designed to get feedback on the functions of the institutions and their role in the fight against corruption. He highlighted the following: soliciting or accepting an advantage, abuse of office, abuse of position, misappropriation of public funds, receiving gifts among others. He further admonished them to perform their functions effectively and efficiently.
Addressing stakeholders at the engagement, the Sub-Regional Manager Kono Wilfred Bangura said, the meeting was organized to update stakeholders on emerging corruption issues in revenue generation. The sub-regional Manager stated that, all present should be mindful of the no. 515, an easy way he said to report bribery free from all the networks. Mr. Bangura gave a brief background of the Pay No Bribe campaign. He said people should not use their offices to get enrich themselves. Mr. Bangura emphasized that ACC lays premium on every corruption offence no matter the amount involved. Hence the need to understand that there is nothing petty about petty corruption. ‘Any breach in the AC Act of 2008 is an offence’ Mr. Bangura stressed.
Mr. Patrick Saffa, Collector NRA said his business is to collect taxes on behalf of Government. According to him, an assessment is done on two requests. He mentioned rental returns to land lords as a source of revenue. He also spoke of P.A.Y.E and GST registered taxes and receipts. He cautioned that people should request for their receipts when once purchase is done in shops/Hotels. He advised on withholding taxes and the role individuals and institutions in deducting 5.5%. He said many shops are not registered. He said all shops that fail to register by April 2017 or fail to obtain a TIN number would be closed. He promised to work with other sectors to collect taxes.
Other stakeholders who made salient contributions were, Mr. Sillah of the Trade Ministry who thanked the ACC for such a laudable venture, Mr. Kpange, Finance Officer, Kono District Council and Edward Nabieu of the Immigration Department.
Questions and answers climaxed the engagement.
