The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) continues its efforts to mainstream anti-corruption measures across various government institutions, aiming to promote system reforms within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). As part of this initiative, the ACC’s Southern Region office has sensitized staff of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDA) on anti-corruption safeguards.
The meeting was held at the SMEDA office in Bo on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Speaking at the meeting, ACC’s Regional Manager for the South, Momodu Sittar, emphasized the importance of such engagements in enhancing staff knowledge about unethical practices. He noted that the meeting was not only essential to raise awareness but also to prompt staff to take appropriate actions when needed.
Mr. Sittar further highlighted that, despite the significant resources invested by the government and its development partners to improve citizens’ economic livelihoods, corruption remains a major barrier to the successful implementation of many projects. He warned officials who exploit their positions for personal gain at the expense of public services, urging SMEDA staff to always adhere to ethical standards.
He reminded them that any breach of regulations would lead to consequences. He also noted that the 2019 amendment to the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 has made participation in corruption a high-risk and low-reward activity.
ACC’s Senior Public Education Officer, Abdulai Saccoh, explained that the engagement was part of the Commission’s broader effort to address systemic weaknesses within MDAs. He pointed out that unethical practices, such as disregarding procedures, enable corruption to flourish. While acknowledging the challenges public offices face, he stressed that compromising ethical values for personal gain is unacceptable.
Mr. Saccoh further outlined actions that could undermine the effective management and utilization of public or donor resources, including the abuse of discretionary power, diversion of donor property for personal use, collusion with businesses to evade state revenue, underpayment of beneficiaries in training sessions, over-invoicing, and the misuse of vehicles and motorbikes. He urged SMEDA staff to adopt anti-corruption measures, emphasizing that improvements in social services are only possible when corruption is tackled.
Public Education Officer Mohamed A. Kabba emphasized the significance of the engagement, highlighting that it provided an opportunity for SMEDA staff to reflect on bad practices that could hinder the delivery of social services to vulnerable groups. He encouraged the staff to reinvigorate their efforts to restore public trust and confidence in public life. He also informed them about various reporting platforms and the protection available to whistleblowers under the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, as amended in 2019.
SMEDA’s Southern Regional Coordinator, Sellu D. Koroma, assured the ACC and the public that SMEDA remains committed to promoting a transparent and accountable business environment. He emphasized that the agency would continue to implement measures to ensure that its operations remain free from corruption, supporting the growth, productivity, and competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
