Anti-Corruption Commission’s northern regional office has met in Makeni with staff of the country’s water company for the provinces, SALWACO, to look into and educate them on the potential of corruption in service delivery.
Its regional manager, Patrick Sandi, emphasised the importance of the water company to the fight against corruption in the country, noting that its primary duty of providing safe drinking water was very strategic to the overall provision of basic needs in that community. He therefore encouraged SALWACO staff to stand against corruption and be sincere in the fight. “If we allow corruption to thrive in this country, we will have nothing to leave as legacy for our children. So let us join hands and be strong to fight against it,” he urged. Sandi emphasised that the Commission has the mandate to investigate all forms of corruption and corrupt practices and pointed at specific offences in the 2008 Act that have direct bearing on SALWACO operations to include misappropriation of donor or public funds or property, soliciting and accepting advantage, protection of public revenue, abuse of office and position, peddling influence and receiving gifts for corrupt purposes among others. SALWACO’s regional manager, Alimamy Kargbo, said they appreciated ACC’s move to educate them, noting that the visit was historic. He said the fight against corruption was in the interest of all Sierra Leoneans and therefore would rely on strong partnerships. ACC’s public education officer, Al-Hassan Sesay, said the meeting addressed some of the dangers of corruption and was part of their mandate to explain corrupt practices in such operations. He added that it was also an attempt to encourage staff members to partner with the Commission in the fight against corruption. He stressed that the fight against corruption was a fight for all and should not just be left in the hands of the Commission alone. The education officer gave a brief background to the establishment of the Commission and explained the three approaches used in the fight against corruption which were public education, prevention and confrontation. He told them that the ACC was not witch-hunting anybody or institution and that it was not just bent on arresting and convicting individuals, but was also sensitising the public on the dangers of corruption and building partnership
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