Sierra Leone News: New National Anti-Corruption Strategy Launched

By Rima Turay

The Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has on Tuesday August 13, 2019, formally launched the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2019–2023) at the Miatta Conference Centre, Brookfields, in Freetown.

The NACS serves as a blueprint for government, the private and business sectors and civil society organizations, to help coordinate and support their efforts to curb corruption. It is a model for developing a set of shared responsibilities across sectors, to encourage collaboration within and among sectors, and to direct renewed enthusiasm towards the aim of reducing corruption and building an ethical society.

In his keynote address, Dr. Juldeh Jalloh described the NACS as a National Strategy that “aims at confronting corruption which is a threat to every sphere of national development, and building an ethical and accountable Government that promotes zero tolerance for corruption, inspire integrity and adherence to the rule of law.”

The Commissioner of the ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. said, “Enforcement is at the heart of the new Strategy, back-stoppedwith Prevention, and Public Education.” “This will demonstrate to the public Government’s determination to fight corruption, as well as to encourage citizens to always resist and report it.”

The crafting of the NACS is consistent with the Government’s Medium Term National Development Plan (MTNDP), the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Anti-Corruption Act, 2008.

The Commission implores all sectors and the general public to support the implementation of the new strategy with a view to reducing corruption and consolidating the foundations of good governance in Sierra Leone.