ACC sensitizes staff of the provincial administration of the Southern region

The Southern Regional Office of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has on Thursday, 23rd February 2012 held fruitful sensitization meetings with senior and junior staff of various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) including drivers and cleaners of the provincial administration of the southern region.
The thrust of the meeting was to sensitize and update staff of the provincial administration about the work of the commission and ways to curb corrupt practices in their various institutions.
Speaking during one of these sensitization meetings with over 50 staff members of the regional administration at the Tikonko Road office of the Provincial Secretary in Bo, ACC District Coordinator, Bo District, Mr. Anthony Samu, intimated his audience that the meeting was one of a series of sensitization meetings normally conducted by the Commission for MDAs. Mr. Samu also allayed the fears of the staff present that the ACC has not received any complaint of any corruption-related activity involving any of the MDAs.
The ACC Coordinator said the Commission should not be seen as an enemy and that it does not engage in witch-hunting, noting that it should be embraced and considered by all and sundry as a dependable institution which is partnering with MDAs to fight against corruption. He informed participants that the meeting gives the opportunity to them as public officials to express their views and ask questions and comment on issues they are not clear about regarding the work of ACC.
Welcoming the ACC team, the Deputy Secretary, Mr. George A. Penyikie who deputized the Provincial Secretary as Chairman of the program expressed appreciation for ACC’s coming closer to them. He said the ACC is well known in the country as an institution that is set up to curb corruption in the country, noting that corruption has been a major hindrance to the development of the country.
In his overview of the Commission, update and activities, Mr. Mohamed Dumbuya, informed participants that the PS Office was the first institution he was introduced to when he assumed office in the Southern Region. Mr. Dumbuya said that in the past, corruption was institutionalized in the country but with the inception of the ACC, several strides have been made in the fight against corruption. He mentioned the indictments and prosecutions of high-profile personalities in the country including Cabinet Ministers. Manager Dumbuya welcomed the decentralization process in the country and intimated that as a Commission, they have also decentralized their operations so as to fight corruption at the local level.
Mr. Dumbuya highlighted the successes of the Commission over the years which include; the recruitment of District Coordinators in all districts in the country, systems review done in various MDAs including the production of Service Delivery Charter for SLRTA & Immigration Department to mention but a few.
The District Coordinator also highlighted some of the offences in the 2008 Act and Manager Dumbuya stressed the need for strategic partnership with PS office in the fight against corruption. Contributions were made by the Resident Minister South, Mr. Moijue Kai Ka,i who made important clarifications on most of the issues and comments raised by the officers present in the meeting.