“Across the South and in the township of Bo there are buildings sprouting–offices, schools, houses, hotels, guest houses, and entertainment centers–and those involved in the architecture are you in this non-formal sector,” Alimamy Kamara underscored.
He said, to keep the private sector booming, and to foster social development, the students are to make commitment to combating bribery and petty corruption. He furthered, the fight against corruption has a corresponding impact on economic and social development. “If we stop paying bribes for enrolment, grades, promotions, and certificates; and on accessing electricity, water, health services, and education; and rejecting and reporting bribery, we are sure of sustaining sector growth. He said the ACC stands ready to working with Craftshare in eliminating malpractices in the educational sector, and in monitoring and safeguarding Government and Donor funded programmes implemented by the institution.
Craftshare is established to primarily train underprivileged youths. Situated on Government Reservation, it enrolls over six hundred students, offering courses in the fields of tailoring, home management, carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical installation, auto-mechanic, hairdressing, and metal work.
According to Joseph Hazeley, Public Education Officer, the PNB is an innovative reporting platform which empowers citizens to anonymously report incidents of bribery and petty corruption. Citizens will call 515 free on all networks, the PNB website; www.pnb.gov.sl, or on the mobile application in Krio, Temne and Mende to make their complaints.
He further said, the Pay No Bribe (PNB) programme is funded with 4.7 million British pounds from the UK Government in financial aid and technical assistance.
Dilating on the campaign, he stressed, the PNB is not prosecution focused, or a system for investigating. It is a data capturing tool that shows trends of bribery in MDAs. The ACC will share the data with the MDAs who in turn will use the data to address corruption from source through administrative actions, systems review and/or policy reforms. The ACC will publish on the PNB website actions taken by MDAs. CSOs, the public, media groups, and interested parties will access the information on the PNB website.
The PNB is piloted in five sectors such as SLP, GUMA Valley SALWACO, EDSA, Education and Health; and in districts of Western Area Urban and Rural, Bombali, Bo, and Kenema, he added.
Mr. Hazeley also said, at the end of the pilot, the project will be expanded nationwide, and may include other sectors.
