The Public Education and Outreach Unit of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Northern Regional Office on 12th June 2025 engaged staff of the National Minerals Agency (NMA) in Makeni on the effects of corruption, key legal reforms, and prevention measures. The meeting, held at the NMA’s offices, was part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness and foster public support in the fight against corruption.
ACC’s Senior Public Education Officer Aiah Sourie opened the meeting by emphasizing the insidious effects of corruption on government institutions. According to Mr. Sourie, corruption erodes public trust, undermines the social contract between the state and its citizens, hampers service delivery, and increases government spending.
He further explained that, aside from thwarting investment and fueling inequality, corruption deepens social divisions and generates resentment. Mr. Sourie assured his audience that the ACC is employing a two-pronged approach to tackle the scourge -focusing primarily on prevention, while using prosecution as a powerful secondary tool.
In her keynote address, the Director of the ACC’s Northern Regional Office, Madam Fatu Florence Kamara, stressed that significant progress had been made under the leadership of Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. to make corruption a high-risk, low-reward activity. According to Madam Kamara, the amended Anti-Corruption Act of 2019 prescribes stiffer penalties and imprisonment upon conviction of corruption offences.
She also drew attention to a key legal framework within the Act – the presumption of corruption – which prescribes that the offering, solicitation, or receiving of a bribe is presumed to be unlawful. “This legislation also requires public officers to declare their income, assets, and liabilities to the Commission, and it criminalises academic malpractices as well,” Madam Kamara added.
According to Ms Kamara, the legal framework helps deter misconduct, commending the high rate of convictions secured by the Commission to date. She encouraged NMA staff to perform their duties with integrity in order to avoid falling foul of the law.
Through its Prevention Department, the ACC reviews the systems and processes of government institutions to identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities to corruption, according to Prevention Officer Musa Mansaray. Mr. Mansaray explained that weak structures foster unethical conduct within government institutions, adding that reviews enable institutions to strengthen controls and align their operations with legal and regulatory standards.
He stressed that collaboration underpins a successful review process, noting that it is not a witch-hunt but a way to aid institutions in delivering services more efficiently and transparently.
Responding to the messages, NMA Regional Geologist Alhaji L. Turay thanked the ACC team for their interactive engagement and recognized the longstanding collaboration between the two institutions in the fight against corruption.
He further explained that the NMA, a key revenue-generating institution, is upholding best practices to enable it to deliver on its mandate effectively. Mr. Turay revealed that the cadastral system installed at the NMA had significantly improved transparency and accountability in recording mining licences.
A question-and-answer session brought the meeting to a close.