The Ombudsman of Sierra Leone Justice Edmond Cowan yesterday told journalists that “we are the conscience of government charged with responsibility to ensure a high level of awareness of the Ombudsman’s office, improve service delivery, strengthening complaints handling and improve people’s perception of the office.”
He stated that they strengthen institutional capacity of the office and provide effective support for its programmes, establish and maintain constructive relationship with the community, government agencies and human rights institutions in line with the rule of law.He said they maintain the independence of the office of the Ombudsman in resolution of complaints, without favor or discrimination, promote administrative justice ,prevent corrupt practices and abuse and promote high standards of integrity in government agencies.The Ombudsman says, persons who feel that they have been unfairly treated by any government institution or employee of such institution can make a complaint to the Ombudsman, adding that the Ombudsman can also receive information from persons other than a complaint.He said he has power to investigate and demand information, file or document from the public body complained of , or he may require any official to provide information about the complaint and if he find out that the complaint is justified he would take action to solve the problem.