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 MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION TO MARK
INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY 2008 Once again we observe International Anti-Corruption Day. The 9th of December every year has been designated as “International Anti-Corruption Day” by the United Nations General Assembly in its Resolution No. 58/4 adopted on 31 October 2003. The date commemorates the High-Level Political Conference held in Merida, Mexico, on 9-11 December 2003, during which the landmark United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) was first opened for signature. The UNCAC represents a universally-accepted comprehensive platform for fighting corruption. The Convention which entered into force in December 2005 is the first legally binding, international anti-corruption instrument and provides a unique opportunity to mount a global response to a universal problem. In observing the International Anti-Corruption Day, we in Sierra Leone join other nations of the world in re-affirming our commitment, as a State Party, to adhere to the provisions of the UNCAC and to actively take part in the work of the United Nations in furthering the implementation of this ground-breaking Convention. Across the globe many events and campaign will be held to help raise awareness of corruption and its negative impact on individuals and society, as well as to promote the UNCAC. In Sierra Leone, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone decided to join forces to celebrate the day and also to celebrate international human rights day which fall on the following day – 10th December. This year’s commemoration of international human rights day is particularly important as it marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The struggle to promote human rights and the campaign against corruption share a great deal in common. As has been pointed out a corrupt government that rejects both transparency and accountability is not likely to respect human rights. The struggle to protect and promote human rights and the crusade to combat corruption and are inextricably linked and inter-reliant and both the eradication of corruption and the strengthening of human rights require a strong integrity system. Corruption causes massive human deprivations and creates sudden and extreme income inequalities; corruption leads to discrimination and arbitrariness in decision-making, established rules, regulations and procedures put in place to act as checks and balances become pointless. The ACC has been taking the necessary to execute its mandate which is to prevent, eradicate and suppress corruption and corrupt practices in Sierra Leone. This is been done based on its three pronged approach of prevention, education and investigation. The setting up of the Commission in 2000 emanated from the desire of the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure that good governance prevails in Sierra Leone after an eleven year old war. The extent and nature of corruption was widely regarded to have been one of the reasons that made the conflict in Sierra Leone inevitable. Corruption made it impossible for the citizens to enjoy the socio-economic benefits which has in turn, created an environment in which conflict can thrive. Tackling corruption ranks amongst Government’s top priorities. His Excellency the President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, has therefore promulgated a policy of zero tolerance to corruption and recently revised, adopted and launched the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS). The NACS is an accentuation of government’s efforts to provide a policy framework to address this menace in a more systematic and holistic way. The Strategy has two objectives: One is improved delivery of social services in terms of quality, quantity and process while the other is a public service that is effective in preventing and confronting corruption without compromising peace and security and playing a leading role in providing the courage for citizens to regard corruption as destructive and therefore avoid being a party to it. The ACC as the lead institution in the fight against corruption is working towards achieving the objectives of the NACS. The Vision of the Commission is “a corrupt free Sierra Leone which will ensure that the socio-economic needs of its citizens are met” and the Commission’s Mission is “to lead the fight against corruption in partnership through public education, prevention, detection and compliance for the benefit of all citizens”. In 2008, the Commission can point to number of successes. The Anti-Corruption Act (ACA) 2000 was repealed and replaced by the Anti-Corruption Act 2008. The amendments in the 2000 Act include creating new offences such as illicit enrichment, abuse and misuse of office, providing adequate protection for whistleblowers and informers, making it compulsory for all public servants to declare their assets and making adequate provision for international cooperation in the fight against corruption. The amendments will ensure that our national legislation is in tandem with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which Sierra Leone has ratified. Also in 2008, Sierra Leone ratified the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and Related Offences. Many public officers, including His Excellency the President and the Honourable Vice President declared their assets, income and liabilities for the first time in the history of this country. The compulsory asset declaration is to encourage integrity in public life. An amendment to section 64(3) of the1991 Constitution which removes the exclusive power of the Attorney General and Minister of justice, and the Director of Public Prosecution in prosecuting state offences in the court of law made it possible for the Commission to have prosecutorial powers. This means that the ACC will now investigate and prosecute its cases without reference to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. As part of its decentralization programme, the Commission’s office in Makeni commenced operation on the 1st September 2008, its first regional office in the North of Sierra Leone. The Official opening was done on the 30th October 2008 by H.E Dr Ernest Bai Koroma. Plans are afoot to open an office in the Eastern part of the country. Despite these small steps, the challenge ahead remains daunting. The Commission will require your full support to be able to discharge its daunting mandate. We trust we can count on it for without we will find it very difficult to achieve our mandate. -----------------------------------------------------------------
On 9th December 2007, I delivered a message on the occasion of the International Day against Corruption. In it, I observed that Sierra Leone was joining other nations in the world to mark the International Day against Corruption. That day is observed to recognize that we all have a personal responsibility to help end corruption. The theme of anti-corruption day 2007 was that your “NO” counts.
This website is another tool we all should use in the campaign to end corruption. It plans to provide a two-prong service. First, it acts as a Resource Centre for visitors to easily download materials about the Commission at any time of the day or night. It is also a vehicle through which the public can not only learn about the activities of the Commission, but members of the public can anonymously report corrupt practices without fear of reprisals if they are identified as the source of the incriminating information. The special reporting feature on the home page allows you to anonymously attach any documentary evidence you might wish to send us. Scanned images and word documents can be uploaded directly into our servers with your privacy preserved. We don’t need to know who you are unless you wish to identify yourself. There can be no limitation to the fight against corruption. The vices of corruption cannot be underestimated. They are manifold and to combat them need all of us on board. Corruption undermines our economic development, it prevents us from achieving the Millennium Development Goals; it continues to keep us at the bottom of the Human Development Index; it makes poverty eradication a distant dream and sustainable development an illusion. It undermines democracy, breaks public trust, and leads to a brain drain. It kills trust in government, public institutions, and companies. Its effect is corrosive and it undercuts all the other achievements of government. In short, corruption hurts everyone. But it affects the poor, vulnerable and marginalised even more than others. In the words of Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary-General, "Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining a government's ability to provide basic services, feeding inequality and injustice, and discouraging foreign investment and aid". The fight against corruption is tasking. It is titanic. The campaign against corruption must not be left to the Commission alone. It must be the responsibility of every person in Sierra Leone to end this menace. The fight against corruption begins with each and every one of us. We must start by saying “NO” to corruption. We must all play our part in ending the culture of dishonesty. We must have the courage to say “NO” when next we are offered a bribe. We must have the integrity to say “NO” when next someone solicits a bribe or asks us to launder money. Our individual actions may seem like small acts, but they all make a huge difference. Your “NO” counts. TAKE PRIDE, STOP BRIBE. Please take your time to browse through all our pages and materials using the various navigational links. The Anti Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone is here for the benefit of all citizens and residents of Sierra Leone. Thank you for visiting and please do not hesitate to contact us at any time. Our physical and Internet doors are always open to you. Abdul Tejan Cole © Copyright by Anti Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone |