By: Saidu Jalloh
In a bid to enhance trust and accountability, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) issued a press release dated 26th January 2024, reminding all public officers of their obligation to declare their income, assets, and liabilities by 31st March 2024.
According to Section 119(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act of 2008, as amended in 2019, every public officer must submit a declaration of their income, assets, and liabilities within three months of assuming office. Subsequently, every two years, and no later than 31st March of that second year, further declarations must be submitted. This obligation extends to public officers leaving office as well.
The ACC specified categories of public officers required to declare their assets, including those in elective offices, presidential appointees, individuals in grade 7 and above, and public officers below grade 7 with financial responsibilities. Additionally, teachers in government and government-assisted schools, such as principals, vice principals, head teachers, deputy head teachers, and bursars, are also obligated to declare their income, assets, and liabilities.
The Commission emphasized that newly appointed or elected individuals, including Paramount Chiefs and Court Chairmen, along with former public officers, are mandated to declare their financial information. Furthermore, those who failed to declare in 2023 for the 2022 Declaration Year must comply with the deadline of 31st March 2024.
To facilitate the declaration process, the ACC provided an online portal, urging all declarations to be made through the Asset Registration Portal: asset.anticorruption.gov.sl orwww.anticorruption.gov.sl. The Commission advised Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to create official emails for new registrants and use existing login credentials for those already registered.
The ACC clarified Section 122A(1), stating that public officers who fail to submit their Assets Declaration Form without reasonable cause or provide false information may face administrative sanctions. In addition to any other penalties under the Act, the Commission warned of possible actions, including withholding salaries or pension benefits, suspension, dismissal, or even criminal prosecution against those who provide misinformation in the declaration forms.