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Commissioner of Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Francis Ben Kaifala, has highlighted what he described as Sierra Leone’s major progress in the fight against corruption during the 16th Commonwealth Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa held in Yaounde, Cameroon.
The conference, hosted at the Yaounde Conference Centre from May 4 to 8, 2026, brought together heads of anti-corruption institutions, senior government officials, governance experts, policymakers, and development partners from across Commonwealth Africa to discuss strategies for strengthening anti-corruption efforts on the continent.
Speaking during engagements at the conference, Kaifala said Sierra Leone has made significant advances in promoting accountability and transparency through reforms implemented under the administration of President Julius Maada Bio.
He pointed to strategic enforcement measures, corruption prevention initiatives, systems and process reviews, and the enforcement of the country’s asset declaration regime as some of the key reforms contributing to the country’s growing recognition among anti-corruption institutions in Africa and beyond.
According to the ACC Commissioner, Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption framework has increasingly become a reference point for other countries seeking practical and results-oriented reforms aimed at improving public sector accountability and governance systems.
Kaifala also chaired one of the conference sessions involving heads of anti-corruption agencies and delegates from several Commonwealth African countries. His role during the deliberations reflected Sierra Leone’s increasing visibility and influence within regional anti-corruption discussions.
The conference was held under the theme, 16th Commonwealth Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa, “Deploying Artificial Intelligence in the Fight Against Corruption in Commonwealth Africa.”
Discussions focused on the use of artificial intelligence and digital technology to improve transparency, strengthen accountability systems, support enforcement strategies, and address emerging corruption-related crimes linked to technology.
During the opening ceremony, Cameroon’s Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Supreme State Audit, Mbah Acha Rose, described the conference as an important platform for dialogue and coordinated action against corruption. She emphasized the role of innovation and technology in improving governance systems and reducing fraud.
Also addressing delegates, Chairman of Cameroon’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (CONAC), Dieudonne Massi Gams, stressed the importance of collaboration among anti-corruption institutions in promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity across Africa.
He noted that while digital transformation presents opportunities for strengthening anti-corruption systems, enforcement measures must also be supported by strong preventive mechanisms.
The conference further provided an opportunity for peer learning, practical engagement, and the strengthening of partnerships among anti-corruption institutions across the continent.
Sierra Leone’s participation at the gathering, according to conference discussions, reflects the ACC’s continued commitment to international best practices, institutional innovation, and global cooperation in combating corruption.
