President Bio has said in Freetown that Corruption has caused us untold sufferings including the brutal long- decade civil war.
The President who was addressing the nation to mark International Anti-Corruption Day noted that over the years, corruption has also undermined our economic development, discouraged foreign direct investment, perverted the Rule of Law, negatively affected service delivery to citizens and ruined our country’s international reputation.
‘’We cannot continue to allow these to happen,’’ President Bio underscored.
President Bio recounted that he is aware of these vices of corruption and this explains why his stance on corruption has been unwavering.
‘’As I have always said: Corruption is a fight we must fight and it is a fight we must win. Therefore, those who engage in corruption, no matter their affiliation or position, will face the full force of the law,’’ the President warned.
He commended what he described as the “seriousness” his administration attaches to the fight against corruption which, according to him, has been remarkable.
This, according to him, has been demonstrated by the dynamic and pro-active leadership of the Anti-Corruption Commissioner, as well as the extraordinary commitment of the entire staff of the Commission.
‘’They deserve not only our public commendation but also our collective support and motivation,’’ he recounted.
He encouraged all to continue to intensify the fight against corruption, noting that they must also be proud as a Nation of the progress they have made so far.
President also disclosed that his government is rated among the best three in Africa in the area of Government’s effectiveness in controlling corruption by Transparency International’s Afro Barometer Report 2019 and that more importantly, there has been a startling improvement in the Millennium Challenge Corporation Scorecard in the area of ‘Control of Corruption’ with a pass mark of 79 percent, making Sierra Leone eligible for the MCC Compact Grant.
‘’We have moved from 49 percent in 2017 to 79 percent in 2019, making Sierra Leone one of the top performers on the ‘Control of Corruption’ indicator,’’ the President concluded.