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Thirty-five staff members of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have departed Sierra Leone for a two-week capacity-building training programme in China focused on identifying and monitoring corrupt practices.
The training, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China through the International Cooperation Centre of the National Development and Reform Commission, will benefit staff across all levels of the Commission, including senior, intermediate, junior, and support personnel.
The delegation, led by ACC Deputy Commissioner Augustine Foday Ngobie, departed from the Freetown International Airport in Lungi on Sunday, June 21, and is expected to participate in the intensive programme from June 23 to July 6, 2026.
Ahead of their departure, the Chinese Embassy in Freetown hosted a pre-departure briefing for participants on June 18. Speaking at the event, Deputy Commissioner Ngobie described the training as a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between Sierra Leone and China.
“This empowering and timely training is a visible mark of the enduring bilateral relationship between Sierra Leone and China,” he said.
Ngobie praised China’s continued support for Sierra Leone’s development, highlighting cooperation in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and education. He also noted that China’s anti-corruption strategies provide valuable lessons for the ACC.
“China’s effective anti-corruption strategies and skills offer vital, practical insights. Your focus on institutional discipline is exemplary, and we are here to avail ourselves of this unique opportunity,” he stated.
In a move described as unprecedented, the ACC leadership ensured that the training opportunity was extended beyond professional staff to include office assistants, drivers, and security personnel, reflecting the Commission’s commitment to inclusive staff development.
One of the beneficiaries, Salieu Mallo Sesay, Head of Office Assistants at the ACC, expressed gratitude to both the Commission’s leadership and the Government of China for the opportunity.
“I have been with this Commission since it was established in 2000, and this is the first time I—or any staff within my work category—am benefiting from this kind of opportunity,” Sesay said.
In addition to the anti-corruption training sessions, participants will also have the opportunity to visit several historic and cultural sites across China as part of the programme.
The initiative further strengthens cooperation between Sierra Leone and China while enhancing the ACC’s efforts to build institutional capacity in the fight against corruption.
