Ambrose Tieh, Intern, NYS- Makeni Office
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)’s North-East Regional office held a customised engagement with staff of the Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority (SLRSA) at the authority’s regional office in Makeni on ethics, integrity and accountability in public service delivery.
Welcoming the ACC delegation, Titus Sesay, head of station at SLRSA, expressed appreciation for the Commission’s visit, describing it as both timely and inspiring. He noted that the sensitisation session would be memorable and urged his colleagues to adhere to ethical standards and best practices in their service to the public.
Delivering her keynote address, Fatu Florence Kamara, ACC Director, North-East, emphasised the need for public officers to uphold integrity and maintain the highest ethical standards in the discharge of their duties. She reminded the participants that corruption has negatively impacted the development efforts of Sierra Leone. This threat, she stressed, therefore requires strong inter-MDA collaboration to fight against it.
Director Kamara cautioned traffic wardens against unethical practices, advising them and volunteers to remain dedicated and avoid involvement in any act of corruption. She further encouraged public officials to retire when due with integrity, so they could enjoy their benefits and pensions without fear of investigation or prosecution.
ACC’s Prevention Officer in the region, Musa Mansaray, also spoke on workplace ethics and integrity. He underscored that integrity takes years to build but can be destroyed in a moment, urging his audience to safeguard the trust placed in them. He welcomed SLRSA’s willingness to collaborate with the ACC in organising future ethics and integrity training sessions.
Mr. Mansaray made mention of a series of interventions in the traffic sector by ACC’s Prevention Department to enhance effective service delivery. He said the provision of a service charter for SLRSA was geared towards enhancing transparency in service delivery and therefore urged the staff present to shy away from corrupt practices.
In his statement, Al-Hassan Sesay, ACC Regional Office Manager, explained key corruption issues bordering on the traffic sector and gave an overview of some key offences in the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 (Amended in 2019). He further explained the increase in punishment in the Amendment Act from a fine of Le30,000 to Le50,000 or a year’s imprisonment for anyone found guilty of one count of corruption offence. He also noted that the act allows for trial in absentia, meaning an accused person can be prosecuted even while on the run.
Mr Sesay dilated on other offences including soliciting and accepting an advantage, abuse of office or position, misappropriation of public or donor funds or property, and receiving a gift for corrupt purposes, amongst others. He therefore urged the staff of SLRSA to execute their job with professionalism.
He reminded them that whatever they do whilst discharging their functions rests on the image of their institution and therefore called on them to uphold and protect the positive image of SLRSA.
In closing the session, Ambrose Tieh, an ACC intern, explained the process for reporting corruption and assured the SLRSA staff of informant protection under the law. He pointed out that making corruption reports strengthens the rule of law and enhances Sierra Leone’s global reputation, concluding that “corruption destroys, but fighting it builds our future.”
