Sierra Leone News: ACC Boss Recounts Successes and Challenges
By George Williams
The Anti-Corruption Commission boss, Francis Ben-Kaifala has on Monday highlighted his successes and challenges during his first year in office.
Ben Kaifala said in Freetown that since his appointed as ACC boss, the Commission has implemented strategies in the fight against Corruption. He said that the Commission has instituted judicial process involving 49 corruption cases and recovering of stolen funds and assets which have been returned to the State.
The ACC Boss said that he has restructured the administrative platform of the Commission by implementing robust and disciplinary control including that new oath of allegiance and commitment subscribed to by staff of the Commission to enhance the commitment in the fight against corruption.
He said that the mandate of the Commission is to prosecute corrupt officials, noting that their robust decisions reflect the actions and judgements of the Judiciary. “In that vein, the commission depends greatly on the judiciary for verdicts on the prosecuted matters,” he said.
The ACC Boss stated that the judiciary is an important component in the fight against corruption, noting that the decision of the judiciary must reflect the position of the country.
Kaifala said that “the judiciary must be proactive in the fight against corruption.” He said that there are challenges, but the commission is working with stakeholders especially the chief justice and the judges of the Supreme Court in restructuring the role of the Judiciary in the fight against corruption.
The commissioner called on the Judiciary to reposition itself in dealing with corruption cases, adding that corruption cases should be treated stringently and different from other court proceedings.
The Commissioner said that they find it very difficult to get witnesses to testify in corruption cases, noting that witnesses are sometimes isolated and security are provided to ensure their safety.
He said there are challenges in terms of recruitment of personnel, as their current office is limited in space and therefore cannot accommodate new staff.
