By Alimamy Lahai Kamara
Bo District is making gains in the fight against corruption. Pay No Bribe report for December last year released barely four days ago returned zero complaints on bribe payment for SALWACO and EDSA.
In the last three months SALWACO has maintained no complaint, while EDSA – for the first time in two years – brought a zero complaint.
ACC Manager South says there will be no turning back at uprooting corruption in the region, and that the Commission will continue holding regular partnership meetings to goad staff of MDAs on the benefits of a corrupt free society.
At a partnership meeting, Musa Jawara tells SALWACO staff that the ACC is on high alert and extra-sensitive to corruption and criminality and will stop at nothing to deracinate the bane. SALWACO and EDSA must have to keep the trend, and that will require them a constant calibration of anti-corruption measures intolerant to modern schemes adopted by perpetrators.
However, December data on police may not have jolted anyone. Efforts by CDIID, ACC, and CARL have beat down reproaching figures of one hundred and above in September, October and November PNB reporting periods.
A humble 12 complaints – largely on traffic – should ginger authorities to make some giant step at arresting the annoyance. Head of CDIID and IMC Focal Person says reduction in the complaints cannot be unconnected to sting operations conducted and stern warnings issued to Local Unit Commanders, District Traffic Officers, and Crime Officers concerning bribery.
ASP Alimamy Bangura says teaming up with the ACC in sting operations and in partnership and community meetings has had a significant impact – reversing the soaring figures to an irritating modest 12.
The December data on health appear motivating, but September, October, and November were heart-breaking – pointing to bribery in hotspots such as drugs and treatment, pregnancy and childbirth, and under five health.
Fifteen people reported paying bribes, a figure the District Medical Officer (DMO) says he will knock down. DR Ronald Marsh tells a Technical Working Group meeting at the ACC Office in Bo that they will continue tightening the belt, and make on the spot visits to PHUs across the district.
A week ago ACC and CARL held a partnership meeting with staff of Bo Government hospital urging them to mainstream anti-corruption measures in order to tackle the malfeasance and criminality.
Education seems to refuse performing. Its record in the last six months has been embarrassing. Chiefdoms like Baoma, Kakua, Tikonko, Bumpe-Gao appear defiant to produce low figures on bribery.
At an ACC partnership meeting with their staff, the Deputy Director John Swarray says the trouble spots house many schools, but actions have been taken to alter the trend. The PNB December figure is arguably high. An unacceptable 24 is an indication that the authorities must do more.
Perhaps, shocking to note is that bribes were reported being paid for admission, grades and exams, and fees. It is unclear whether payments for admission were made in approved or unapproved schools.
Pay No Bribe reports are published monthly by the Anti-Corruption Commission, providing trend analysis on bribery as it occurs in five MDAs, namely education, health, police, electricity, and water. This informs authorities on measures tackling the menace.