The Anti – Corruption Commission (ACC) and National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) has held two days joint Managerial Accountability workshop and Sensitization program under the theme: Improving Transparency and Accountability in the Public Sector at the District Council hall along Maxwell Khobe street in Kenema city.
The Chairman of the occasion Dr. Sandi Bockarie says the workshop is important as it reflects the views of the people. He says the Genesis of corruption starts from management level in every operational field within the working force and to translate the mission statement of the Anti Corruption commission top-level officials should be concentrated upon.
He said when management is corrupt free all in it will be corrupt free and everything along the line should be corrupt free. He added that the ACC values quality service delivery.
The Acting officer in charge of Bo office Patrick Sandi says the ACC was
Established in 2000 by an Act of Parliament and has among its many functions the prevention of corrupt practices and for related matters.
The Commission over the years has been organizing workshops for various institutions in order to educate them on the ways of eliminating the opportunities for corruption existing in these Agencies – key among these MDAs are the ministries of Education, Agriculture and Health.
What is referred to as a Best Practices Guide has always been developed to serve as a blue print for the operations of these ministries.
He said the commission has targeted senior and middle level Managers in five key Ministries Education, Health, Local Government, Agriculture and Energy and Power.
The critical role and importance of these five ministries cannot be overemphasized he said. However, the challenges of meeting the millennium development goals by 2015, is contingent on the level of transparency and accountability that should characterize these Ministries. He disclosed that the Anti-Corruption Commission is going through a restructuring process wherein Departments will be made more focused in their activities to ensure better and robust approach to the fight against corruption.
His Excellency the President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma’s stance is zero tolerance to corruption. This makes it imperative on every Sierra Leonean to contribute to this fight and make Sierra Leone a corrupt free society competent enough to be in the comity of well meaning nations.
The Provincial Secretary East Alhaji Salia Magona in his contribution assured the commission of government’s support as the vision of the President is to see a corrupt-free Sierra Leone.
Among the facilitators were Mr. Mathew Roberts the Prevention Officer and Moses Ngebeh of NPPA and Mr. Sam Mokuwa the District Manager Bombali of the (ENCISS) Enhancing the Interaction and Interface between Civil Society and the State to improve Poor People’s Lives. Participants were drawn from Kailahun, Kono and Kenema districts.