The North-West Regional Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has held a sensitization meeting at Rogbaneh Village Court Barray, Tainkatopa chiefdom in Port Loko district.
The community meeting on Tuesday 16th February 2021 was part of ACC’s public education drive aimed at educating and raising awareness in rural communities on corruption and its effects as well as soliciting public support.
Welcoming officials from the ACC, the Section Chief Pa Alimamy Kargbo expressed profound happiness to have ACC officials in his chiefdom and for taking anti-corruption messages to chiefdom level particularly so when the Chiefdom stands alone as a result of the de-almagamation process.
Explaining the purpose of the meeting, the Public Education Officer Mohamed Thullah said the community will be educated on the general work of the commission, the effects of corruption and the need for collaboration in winning the fight against corruption. He stated that corruption has permeated every aspect of society which has made public support as pivotal in addressing it. In reporting corruption, he said, confidentiality and the protection of complainants and witnesses occupies an integral part in terms of safeguarding their security and safety.
Addressing local authorities and residents of Rogbaneh Village, the Regional Manager Al-Hassan Sesay said the ACC conducts such meetings to heighten public awareness that will serve as an eye opener to key corruption issues that are prevalent in rural communities. He stated that the lack of public knowledge and education on related corruption issues in communities has had a devastating effects on the implementation and ownership of government and donor driven projects across rural communities. “Even when corruption happens at the top, it is the rural people that suffer the most,” he said.
He underscored the significance of public support in the fight against corruption and encouraged the locals to enhance ownership by rejecting and reporting corrupt practices that are prevalent in their various communities. “We must stand up against corruption and ensure we don’t give room to anyone taking advantage of the prevailing circumstances,” he emphasized.
He highlighted several corrupt practices across various sectors including the local court administration, the school system, the health sector and other areas of concerns of corruption vulnerabilities in communities. He issued a stern warning to local authorities and residents to desist from corruption and being part involving f any corruption enterprise that contravenes the law.
The Senior Public Education Officer Samuel JunisaSankoh who spoke on the role of the community in the fight against corruption noted the importance of the participatory aspect of the fight and sees public support as a cardinal part in combating corruption. He encouraged them to resist, reject and reporting corruption always using the toll free lines of 077985985,077986986 and 515.
Question and answer session and the presentation of ACC’s Information Education and Communication materials formed part of the engagement.
