The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) remains resolved to increase public participation in the fight against corruption through sustained and effective awareness raising programmes across the country. In this regard, the Public Education Unit of the ACC Northern Regional Office on Friday 1st March 2019 engaged local authorities and residents of Masangbo Pill community on issues of corruption.
Speaking at the Masangbo Pill Court Barray, Masangbo Pill Section, Paki Masangbon Chiefdom, Bombali District, Public Education Officer, ACC, Abdulai Saccoh said the meeting was meant to connect people in rural areas to the Commission so that they would know how corruption affects their wellbeing and how they can help the Commission to combat the scourge.
Mr. Saccoh said that public sector institutions tasked with the delivery of quality social services to the public could not meet public expectations as a result of greedy and selfish officials within those entities. He maintained that the country would not be considered to be serious in improving the lives of its citizens when corruption still flourishes.
The Public Education Officer also updated them on the Commission’s gains in the fight against corruption, including the recovery of over Eleven Billion Leones in the past eight months, the One hundred percent conviction rate and the country’s significant progress in the area of ‘Control of Corruption’ in the Millennium Challenge Corporation Scorecard.
He called on local authorities to play their part because no contribution is considered to be small in the fight against corruption.
In her statement, Public Education Officer, Jeneba Kemoh applauded the courage of the community people to attend to the call of ACC amidst their busy farming schedule. Madam Kemoh emphasized that, as citizens, it is not a choice but rather an obligation to fight graft. The Public Education Officer assured them of informant protection as enshrined in the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, noting that, corruption of any form should be reported to the Commission through mobile toll free lines 077985985/077986986, 161; or 515 to report bribery.
Section Chief, Masangbo Pill Section, Pa Ibrahim L. Thorley and the Head Teacher of the Bombali District Education Committee (BDEC) Primary School commended Government’s decision to approve their school and also appealed for the approval of the unapproved teachers in the school. They pledged their unflinching support to partner with the ACC in the fight against corruption.