Interacting with rural communities is one of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) sustained approaches to heighten public awareness on corruption. Such strategy provides the public the platform to discuss issues affecting the progress of their community and how to collaborate with the Commission in combating the scourge. Therefore, the Commission’s Northern Regional Office held an outreach meeting in Sanya and Fintonia communities on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th March 2019, respectively.
Speaking to stakeholders and residents at their various Court Barrays in Sanya and Fintonia towns, Tambaka Yobangie Chiefdom, Karene District, ACC Regional Manager North, Abu Bakarr Kamara, underscored the significance of the awareness raising programs, noting that corruption will not end if the public turn a blind eye on this menace.
Manager Kamara said reaching out to border communities is a deliberate attempt by the Commission to empower them with the right tools to put a meaningful dent on corruption. He referred to corruption as a despicable act, denounced by civilized society because it undermines the socio-economic and moral fabric of human existence.
The Manager stated that the reason why corruption flourishes is due to citizens’ self-centeredness instead of putting the country’s interest first.
Manager Kamara reminded public officers of their sacred duties to the State and called on them to remain resolved in ensuring that Government gets the required resources from that part of the country.
Manager Kamara provided his audience with operation updates with reference to the interventions ACC has made in prevention and public education. He also dilated on the number of cases charged to court, successful prosecutions and the recovery of over eight billion Leones in eight months.
The Manager assured the people of Sanya and Fintonia of the Commission’s determination to take all steps necessary to ensure that corruption become an unattractive enterprise.
Addressing both communities, ACC Public Education Officer, Abdulai Saccoh, said the meeting was intended to shed light on some bad practices that continue to wreak havoc on the lives of the rural people. Saccoh emphasized that it also sought to restore the confidence of people in hard to reach areas so that rogues in their community would be exposed.
The Public Educator highlighted a number of activities in the health, education, justice and security sectors that the public should never again tolerate. He added that those that have been perpetrating such despicable acts should desist as they amount to offences in the ACC Act 2008.
Saccoh guaranteed his audience of protection for informants because reports made to the Commission would be kept secret. The Public Education Officer informed his audience that corruption issues of any kind can be reported to the Commission in-person, letter or through 077985985/077986986, or 515.
He encouraged his audience not to make false/malicious report as it is punishable by law. Saccoh called on all to join forces with the ACC to defeat the nation’s enemy, which is corruption.
In another engagement, the team engaged staff and pupils of Sanya Community Junior Secondary School and Education Hope Academy Junior Secondary School in Sanya and Fintonia communities on the free quality education and adverse effects of corruption in schools. Pupils were advised not to pay bribes to get good grades.
The team encouraged them to take their academic work seriously so that they too would become useful citizens in the future.
Local authorities, head teachers, health workers, police and military personnel in their statements commended the Commission, especially in reaching out to remote communities to raise awareness on corruption and its adverse effects on the society.
They acknowledged the positive strides of Government in the approval of schools, health and security, but appealed for more assistance. Stakeholders unanimously called for Government’s intervention to addressing the deplorable condition of the roads in the chiefdom.
ACC TAKES CORRUPTION FIGHT TO BORDER COMMUNITIES
