AYV News, September 17, 2025
In its sustained efforts to ensure that Sierra Leoneancommunities are aware of the devastating effects of corruption, the ACC Outreach Unit in the Kono Regional Office on the 12th September 2025, held a fruitful dialogue and sensitization meeting with residents and stakeholders of the Condama Community, Nimiyama Chiefdom, in the Kono District. The meeting discussed the various forms of corruption that continue to deprive communities of the benefits of a corrupt free society.
The meeting which took place at their Court Barray provided the opportunity for the ACC to inform them about the operations of the Commission, its achievements under the leadership of the present leader, the Peoples’ Commissioner, Mr. Francis Ben Kaifala Esq, and the various means of reporting suspected corruption occurrence in their communities to the Commission without any fear of harassment, intimidation, and backlash.
The participants which included Community Stakeholders, Medical Staff, School Authorities, Youth, School Pupils, Local Court Staff, Women’s representatives and Bike Riders among others, were full of appreciation for the engagement with the termed as educative and empowering.
Earlier, in his welcome statement, the Principal of the Basilseh Secondary School Condoma, Mr. Dominic T. Nicol praised the Commission for such an interactive engagement. He said they are pleased to have the ACC in their midst noting that such engagements will help them identify corruption issues in their community and report them to the Commission. Mr. Nicol on behalf of his people pledged their fullest support and cooperation with the ACC in the fight against corruption.
Discussing the rationale for the engagement, the Senior Public Education Officer ACC Kono, Sam P. Gogra said the ACC was in their midst to raise consciousness about negative effects of corruption and to entreat them to support the national fight against corruption, by rejecting, resisting and reporting all forms of corrupt practices to the Commission. He stated that community support is very important in winning the fight against the menace. He reminded the audience about the possibility of corrupt practices occurring in various sectors in their community, including schools, Health Centers, security and mining sectors, markets, Local Courts, in projects and programmes, etc. Gogra emphasized that no community will prosper and develop if corruption is allowed to continue thriving gloriously.
The Senior Public Education Officer reminded the participants about the huge cash and other physical assets that the ACC has recovered from corrupt individuals under its’present leadership and therefore warned his audience against embezzlement and misappropriation of community resources and revenues generated from for instances mining and other economic activities in their localities. He therefore urged them to report every instance of the scourge to the Commission for prompt actions.
The ACC Public Education Officer Kono, Patricia J. Sannoh in her presentation, reminded the audience about some of the offences committed by community stakeholders that may fall under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019, including but not limited to embezzlement and misappropriation of project and community funds and other resources, conspiracy, soliciting and accepting an advantage by contractors and public officers before, during and after much needed services to them, bribery, abuse of office and position, etc.
She stated that each of the offences stated above can attract a minimum fine of Fifty Thousand Leones (Le50,000), or a minimum five-year prison term, or both fine and jail term upon conviction by the court of law.
Patricia assured the participants that the Commission is determined to improve the lives of every Sierra Leonean in ensuring that perpetrators of corruption are held accountable. She therefore entreated the audience to always contact the ACC Kono Regional Office or call the toll free lines, 077-985985/986986 to report suspected corruption offences.
The ACC team also held successful on the spot engagements with the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) at the Mabudu Police Checkpoint and with health workers at the Condama, Njagbwema and Yengema Community Health Centers (CHCs) to raise awareness and caution them about corrupt practices in their operations.
The engagements concluded with question and answersessions, which was very interactive.
