The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has issued a press release today 26, October 2023 urging all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government about the provisions of Section 51(4) of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2008 as amended in 2019, which requires ALL Public Institutions to develop and maintain a Gift Register, which is a record of Gifts valued at Five Thousand (New) Leones and above, that are received by staff of the respective institutions.

The said Press reminds the public of the extant provision that states “Where a gift or personal benefit exceeds Five Million [Old] Leones in value or where the total value received directly or indirectly from one source in any twelve month period exceeds Five Million [Old] Leones, the public officer shall-(a) make a report of that fact to the relevant public body within such time and in such form as may be prescribed by the Commission.”

Subsequently, a Public Officer who receives such a gift is required to “file with his annual declaration of assets and liabilities a statement indicating the nature of the gift or benefit, its source and the circumstances under which it was given or accepted.”

Section 51 (5) of the Act states that “A public officer who fails to comply with the requirements in subsection (4) commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine three times the value of the gift or benefit or Fifty Million [Old] Leones, whichever is greater or to imprisonment for a term not less than one year.”

The ACC further states that it will invoke the relevant provisions of the Act for any failure by a public officer who receives a gift that is valued at Five Thousand (New) Leones and above that is not declared to the respective institution and/or the Commission.

The ACC issued the reminder following their investigation into the allegation of receipt of vehicles as Gifts by the former Chief Immigration Officer, Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, and the said three (3) vehicles are in the custody of the ACC pending investigation.

The Commission reassures the general public of its unwavering determination to control corruption in Sierra Leone.