In his presentation, ACC Regional Manager North Abu Bakarr Kamara said, the PNB is a deliberate step taken by ACC and its partners to restore sanity in public sector service delivery processes. Manager Kamara lamented on the poor delivery of services by some Government offices whose daily activities are plagued with bribery issues. He informed his audience that since September 2016 when the platform was unveiled, PNB targeted MDAs have demonstrated huge commitment through their actions to deal with complaints generated from the PNB portal. Manager Kamara assured the people that the reporting methods are absolutely anonymous.
Addressing the people, ACC Public Education Officer Abdulai Saccoh underscored, bribery has caused serious havoc to society, noting the unwillingness of the public to report. Saccoh stated that based on the scope and crucial nature of the services these PNB targeted Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) provide, it will be detrimental to the public if they turn a blind eye on any bribery activity in these sectors. He informed furthered that PNB is here to stay and its success depends on the public’s involvement in the process. He also stated that, PNB provides that citizens report on when they resist to pay a bribe and meeting an honest official.
The Public Education Officer catalogued the number of bribery reports in Education, Health, and the Sierra Leone Police that continue to make poor people poorer. Saccoh assured them of the Commission’s commitment to stand against any corruption-related moves that has the potential to undermine the development aspirations of Sierra Leone.
In his statement, Public Education Officer ACC, Abdul K. Bangura admonished the people not to see themselves as mere spectators in the fight against bribery and petty corruption because the bane cannot be defeated by a single entity. He gave an overview of the PNB campaign noting it is a systematic approach to gather evidence on acts of bribery that occur within units, sections or departments in public offices.
The Public Educator assured the people that reports made through the PNB free line 515 on all networks, the mobile application in Krio, Temne and Mende and the website; www.pnb.gov.sl, are confidential and positive actions will be taken by the MDAs to address them.
Coordinator Animator, MADAM Sierra Leone, Edward Conteh said their role as civil society organization in the PNB is to promote and facilitate citizens’ access to the PNB reporting system, focusing on animation work with members of the public in Bombali and the adjoining districts; and in close collaboration with ACC hold community engagements, radio discussion programmes on issues relating to the campaign and the work of MDAs.
Town Chief-Kamasasa, Tonko Limba Chiefdom, Pa Adikalie Sesay commended the ACC for reaching out to communities like theirs. Pa Sesay on behalf of his people pledged that they will always call the 515 free phone line to report and support the overall campaign against corruption in the District.
In a related development, the Regional Manager admonished staff and pupils of Madina Government Secondary School to resist, reject and report any forms of bribery incidences in their institution by calling the 515 free phone line on all the networks.
Questions and answers session climaxed the engagements.
