It is worthy to note that the second phase of the recovery has added energy, water and governance to the initial priorities of education, health, social protection and private sector development.
Making a statement, the Chief of Staff, Mr Saidu Conton Sesay said reducing corruption will give government more money for the improvement and delivery of services and encourage participants to support the process of combating graft in rolling out these projects. He pointed out that the targeted priorities are for government to deliver and achieve the desired results as well as having a marked difference of performance between the first and the second phase of the recovery programme.
Mr Sesay also accentuated the involvement and ownership of paramount chiefs in monitoring these programmes in their different localities and ensures the interest of the people is secured. “We must all ensure the services reach or impact the various communities,” he stressed.
The Chief of Staff also noted the significance of transparency and accountability in the entire process.
Delivering his address, the commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Ady Macauley stated the commission’s commitment in the fight against corruption particularly in the president’s recovery priorities and disclosed that the commission is now taking a preventive approach in the fight against graft in health, education, energy, water, the port among others. He said corruption has been a deterrent to public service delivery adding that the Pay No Bribe campaign will help to diagnose and prevent acts of corruption.
“We must encourage and embrace the fight against corruption. It is time to talk the talk and work the work, it is no longer business as usual,” the ACC boss vowed. The Pay No Bribe campaign, he said, gives the platform to the ordinary man to report corruption anonymously, and encouraged traditional leaders to trickle down these messages to their subjects.
The Minister of Water Resources Momodu Maligi said the ministry is embarking on the rehabilitation of the entire Guma water distribution and transmission lines to address the water supply system in Freetown. He disclosed that government has applied for funding for the use of the Rokel River and had also done feasibility studies to take water from the river.
Provision of water to 400 rural communities, access to unreserved areas, ensure water security and resource management, provide and restore access to water and sanitation are some of the steps taken to increase access to water.
Similar engagement will be held in Makeni involving MDAs and other stakeholders in the Northern District.
