By Politico staff writer
Anti-Corruption Commission Sierra Leone and Transparency International Sierra Leone Chapter yesterday 11th July jointly commemorated the African Anti-Corruption Day on the theme '‘Fighting Corruption NOW for the Africa We Want.’'
The two institutions in a joint press statement explained that the day was set aside to give prominence to the fight against corruption by commemorating the adoption of the AUCPCC as the tool for fighting corruption in Africa.
“On this day, we reflect on the dire consequences of corruption on our Nation, the Continent, and the World at large. It is a threat to the progress and development of citizens and the country at all times, for which reason we should tackle it,” the statement reads in part
It stated that the Government of Sierra Leone, together with the Anti-Corruption Commission Sierra Leone (ACC-SL) and civil society organizations including, Transparency International Sierra Leone Chapter, has always expressed its unflinching desire to wage a robust fight against corruption.
“The President, His Excellency Brig. (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio recently reiterated his Government’s commitment to curb corruption as it poses “an existential threat’ to the developmental aspirations of the country,” the statement reads in part.
Leveraging on the political will of President Bio, the statement stated that the commission over the last five years made gains in areas of Public Education and Awareness on corruption issues, Prevention through Systems and Processes Reviews of public offices, Investigations, and Prosecutions “which have produced over 90 percent conviction rate.”
Through collaborative efforts, the statement added that civil society organizations also continue to raise awareness of the dangers of corruption and the need for citizens to take ownership of the fight against the scourge.
Highlighting the successes of the commission, the statement noted that the country currently records 79 percent in the ''Control of Corruption’' indicator in the Millennium Challenge Corporation Scorecard and 110 out of 180 countries surveyed in the 2022 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (TI-CPI).
It added that “the ACC has also in the last five years, recovered public funds over forty-five (45) Billion (Old) Leones, a two-storey hotel building and two Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles from corrupt individuals as part of the Commission’s Non-conviction based Asset Recovery approach.”
ACC and TI-SL call on the public to act conscientiously against corruption by speaking up, reporting any suspected acts of corruption to the ACC, and embracing transparency, accountability, and integrity in public and private life.
The African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) was adopted on the 11th of July 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique which came into effect in 2006 and has since then been ratified by 48 Member States of the African Union including Sierra Leone.
This year marks the seventh edition of the African Anti-Corruption Day and the twentieth (20th) anniversary of the AUCPCC.
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