‘When tertiary institutions fail to build incorruptible young minds, society crumbles,’ this is according to the Vice Chancellor and Principal of Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology (EBKUST), Reverend Professor Edwin J.J. Momoh.
He made the statement at an interactive forum organized by the Northern Regional Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday 19th March 2019. The event was meant to sensitize staff and students on corruption related matters.
Explaining the rationale for the meeting at the Azzolini Auditorium, EBKUST, Makeni campus, ACC’s Public Education Officer, Jeneba Kemoh, said that the engagement was to let her audience know that the Commission has a human face that interacts with the public, build coalition and partnership with the public and private institutions, mainstream anti-graft measures and encourage heads of institutions to institute internal control measures to mitigate corrupt practices.
ACC Public Education Officer, Abdulai Saccoh, lauded the efforts of the administration for training Sierra Leoneans that have shown good character and willingness to strengthen the country’s human resource potential.
Mr. Saccoh underscored the significance of the meeting and the crucial role of midwives in promoting anti-corruption values in the health delivery system; adding that health workers are unique because of the level of interaction with the public and the sacred responsibility entrusted to them to save lives.
The Public Education Officer urged the students to prove their mettle and work diligently to serve the country. He said that ACC does not derive pleasure in putting people behind bars but will stop at nothing in prosecuting the corrupt.
Mr. Saccoh informed his audience that the Commission has contributed immensely in accelerating development due to its relentless strides in ensuring that public and donor funds are protected, recovered and used for their intended purposes.
He dilated on the Commission’s amendment Bill 2019 that will further strengthen the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, cases charged to court, successful prosecutions and the approximate twelve billion leones that has been recovered in the past eight months. He entreated his audience to reject, resist and report any act of corruption to the Commission through the Commission’s toll free lines-077985985, 077986986, or 515 (all networks).
Questions and answers session formed the highpoints of the engagement.
ACC SENSITIZES STAFF AND STUDENTS OF ERNEST BAI KOROMA UNIVERSITY
