In Sierra Leone, the fight against corruption has long been framed as a moral and national imperative. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), established in 2000 with a mandate to investigate and prosecute graft, has often been hailed as the watchdog of integrity. Yet, in recent years, especially under the current Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) administration, the credibility and independence of the ACC are increasingly under fire. Critics argue that while the ACC has made headlines with arrests and media blitzes, many high-profile corruption cases involving SLPP officials are either ignored, deliberately buried, or selectively pursued.
As public frustration mounts, the future of the ACC hangs in the balance. Civil society actors, journalists, opposition politicians, and ordinary Sierra Leoneans are raising serious questions: Is the ACC truly independent? Or is it being used as a political tool to protect those in power and persecute opponents? These questions demand urgent answers—not just for the legitimacy of the ACC but for the very soul of Sierra Leone’s democratic future.
The Legacy of Corruption: A Persistent Curse:
Sierra Leone’s history is punctuated by corruption scandals that have robbed the country of its development prospects. From the infamous embezzlement of Ebola funds in 2015 to questionable procurement contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic, graft has been an enduring cancer. While successive governments have promised to root out corruption, the actual results have often been cosmetic—more show than substance.
The Bio-led SLPP government rode to power in 2018 on an anti-corruption platform, pledging to clean up the mess left by the previous All People’s Congress (APC) regime. The public was hopeful. The appointment of Francis Ben Kaifala as ACC Commissioner was seen by many as a bold move to inject energy and focus into the commission. Early investigations, especially into former APC officials, appeared to signal a new dawn. But six years later, that dawn seems to have faded into a familiar twilight of political shielding, selective justice, and public betrayal.
Selective Justice and Political Shielding:
The primary criticism facing the ACC today is that its approach to justice is not blind—it is politically selective. While former APC officials have faced intense scrutiny and prosecution, many SLPP figures accused of similar or worse offenses have walked away untouched.
For instance, civil society has raised red flags about the unexplained wealth and opulent lifestyles of some senior SLPP ministers, questionable contracts awarded to party loyalists, and massive procurement irregularities. Yet, in many of these instances, there has been no formal investigation or prosecution. Critics argue that the ACC is reluctant to touch “sacred cows” within the ruling party, especially those close to State House.
One striking example includes the Ministry of Agriculture’s alleged mismanagement of millions of dollars allocated under the much-publicized “Feed Salone” initiative. Despite media investigations and leaked documents indicating inflated contracts and procedural violations, the ACC has not taken visible action. Similarly, concerns over procurement fraud in the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, under the direct watch of the Chief Minister and close allies, have not triggered full-blown investigations.
This pattern has led to an overwhelming perception that the ACC is being used more as a shield for those in power than a sword against corruption.
Public Disillusionment and the Erosion of Trust:
The damage caused by perceived bias is not merely reputational—it is existential. Public trust in the ACC has significantly eroded. In markets, schools, radio discussions, and community forums, the ordinary Sierra Leonean no longer speaks of the ACC with respect or hope. Instead, skepticism and sarcasm dominate public discourse.
The phrase “selective justice” is now synonymous with the ACC’s operations. Citizens increasingly believe that anti-corruption campaigns are timed to score political points or silence dissenting voices. Opposition figures argue that the commission has become an appendage of the executive—used to intimidate or disqualify political opponents through well-publicized but poorly substantiated indictments.
This disillusionment is a dangerous trend. When people no longer believe in the fairness of watchdog institutions, they become cynical about the entire governance system. Such cynicism can morph into apathy or even violent resistance, threatening democratic stability.
Civil Society and Opposition Pushback:
Amid these troubling developments, civil society groups, independent media, and opposition parties have become increasingly vocal. Organizations like the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL), Institute for Governance Reform (IGR), and the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) have repeatedly called for the ACC to demonstrate greater independence, transparency, and courage.
The main opposition party, APC, has accused the ACC of being weaponized to discredit and dismantle its political base. According to them, the commission’s refusal to investigate SLPP-linked officials while vigorously pursuing APC figures exposes its partisanship. Some have even gone as far as demanding an international audit of the ACC’s activities and processes.
Meanwhile, the media has played a critical role in holding the ACC to account. Investigative journalists have uncovered scandals involving large sums of money, ranging from shady mining deals to questionable donor-funded projects—many of which have yet to receive any ACC attention.
The ACC’s Response and the Tightrope of Independence:
Commissioner Ben Kaifala has consistently defended the ACC’s integrity, arguing that investigations are based on evidence and not politics. In multiple public statements, he has stressed that the ACC cannot act on “rumors and WhatsApp messages” and needs concrete complaints and documents to proceed.
While these assertions hold some validity, they also raise questions. With dozens of credible media reports and whistleblower accounts available, why has the ACC not acted more decisively? If independence is truly the commission’s hallmark, why is it so reluctant to bite the hand that feeds it?
The reality is that the ACC operates in a politically sensitive ecosystem. It is funded by the state and its leadership is appointed by the president—creating a structural vulnerability to political interference. Without reforms that guarantee financial and operational autonomy, the ACC will remain susceptible to influence, whether real or perceived.
The Future of the ACC: Reform or Irrelevance?
The ACC stands at a crossroads. It can either reform and regain public confidence or risk becoming irrelevant in the eyes of the people. Several steps are urgently needed to chart a credible future for the commission:
Institutional Independence: Appointments to the ACC must be depoliticized. A bipartisan parliamentary committee should be involved in nominating the commissioner to reduce executive overreach.
Transparent Operations: The ACC should publish periodic reports detailing complaints received, actions taken, and investigations concluded, regardless of political affiliations.
Whistleblower Protection: Laws must be strengthened to protect citizens who provide evidence against powerful figures. This will encourage more people to come forward.
Civic Engagement: The ACC must launch community-based campaigns to rebuild public trust, especially in marginalized districts where corruption has a deeper impact.
External Oversight: An independent board composed of civil society, academia, and religious leaders should provide oversight of the ACC’s actions and decisions.
The Fight Must Be Genuine:
Corruption is not just a political issue in Sierra Leone—it is a developmental and moral crisis. Every misappropriated dollar is a classroom un-built, a hospital unequipped, a road left in disrepair. The ACC, by virtue of its mandate, holds the keys to a future where integrity, not impunity, defines public service.
But for this future to materialize, the ACC must shake off the perception—and perhaps the reality—that it is politically compromised. It must fearlessly pursue corruption wherever it resides, regardless of party color, social status, or personal connection. Only then can it fulfill its mission.
The people of Sierra Leone deserve more than token arrests and press releases. They deserve justice, fairness, and a corruption-free future. If the ACC cannot deliver that, it will join the long list of broken promises that haunt the nation’s conscience.
And that would be the greatest corruption of all.