ACC is Not Into Witch Hunting – ACC Director of Outreach

Sierra Leone, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is the body empowered by parliament to weed out corruption in Sierra Leone, and as a result of their tasks, the Director of Education and Outreach, ACC Patrick Sandi said they are not witch hunting at all.

Speaking about the challenges faced by the Commission over the lasts few years the Director said they have made a lot of gains under the leadership of the young Commissioner, Francis Ben Keifala commonly referred to as the “People’s commissioner,” but noted that even before him; there ha been progress in the Commission.

Mr. Sandi said Sierra Leoneans have given them the mandate through the Anti-Corruption Act, to prevent and investigate issues that have to do with corruption.

And in their drive to tackle corruption in the country, they will leave no stone unturned for the betterment of the nation.

He said what they are doing is to go after people who they believe and have the evidence that might have been involved in corruption related activities, regardless of party, age or region, adding that they are performing or executing their tasks in line with their Act.

Mr. Sandi said by some sections of the public, “We do not have choice of people we persecute,” noting that as long as it is a corruption related issue, they are more than willing to go after the individual or individuals that might be involved in such an act, in the interest of the state. “We are looking at issues dispassionately,” he stated.

In the area of which hunting, he said they are persecuting both present and past government officials, citing that’s when the new Commissioner came in 2018. It was a transition period, and those officials needed to be investigated, to evaluate what they have then and after service what they have, if it is commensurate.

He called on Sierra Leoneans not to politicize the work of the Commission as that has the tendency to undermine the progress which has been made by the ACC.

According to Awoko Newspaper, Mr. Sandi maintained that all of the gains and success story of the Commission is, not as a result of the work of the Commission alone, but also the support they are getting from the people, as he appealed to them to continue to support the work of the ACC.

In conclusion, he said the fight against corruption belongs to every Sierra Leonean, as they are just there to lead and execute the process.