The Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara on Tuesday 1st February, 2011 presented a Validated Civil Society Monitoring Report on the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy to the Chief of Staff Dr. Kaifala Marah, at State House.
The Joint Monitoring and Validation exercise undertaken by civil society and the Commission is in fulfillment of government’s compliance with provisions in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which focuses on collaboration of anti corruption agencies with civil society.
The Report highlights how public sector institutions, such as Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have successfully implemented plans of action according to the NACS.
While giving an overview of the monitoring exercise, the Director of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy Secretariat, Shollay Davies said the Report is in two volumes and contains findings on the achievements and challenges of the various entities monitored. He highlighted the two major challenges, which are communicating policy decisions from Freetown to the regional offices and procurement and logistical constraints in the delivery of services to the people.
The Commissioner in his presentation thanked the civil society groups for taking their time to put the Report together and called on them to continue the good work. He said that the ACC will continue to engage other stakeholders as partners in development. Concluding, the ACC Commissioner gave an update of the investigation and prosecutorial aspect of the Commission, stating that the Commission currently has over 170 cases under investigation, 16 in court and six on appeal. He called for the support of the general public in the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone.
Receiving the Report on behalf of Government the Chief of Staff Dr. Kaifala Marah said the Report is an important tool that any government can use to assess itself. He assured his audience that it will be duly submitted to His Excellency the President and subsequently to Cabinet for action. The Report he said will be properly scrutinized to address the challenges contained therein.
A cross section of ACC staff, Members of Civil Society Monitoring Groups and International Donors were at the ceremony.
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