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Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala has said he will not accept responsibility if Sierra Leone’s international corruption rankings decline, attributing any possible setback to political interference and ongoing disagreements surrounding the handling of the Auditor General’s reports.
Speaking in an interview with Truth Media, Kaifala defended the ACC’s performance under his leadership, arguing that measurable improvements in global corruption indicators demonstrate the commission’s effectiveness in tackling corruption.
He said Sierra Leone has recorded significant progress on international assessment platforms since his appointment, citing improvements in the country’s score on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Control of Corruption indicator.
According to Kaifala, Sierra Leone’s score increased from 45 percent at the time he assumed office to consistently above 70 percent, reaching what he described as a record high of 83 percent.
He also referenced Sierra Leone’s performance in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, stating that the country improved from a ranking of 130th to around 108th–110th position, representing a rise of more than 20 places.
Kaifala further pointed to public opinion data, arguing that Sierra Leone is among a small number of African countries where citizens believe meaningful action is being taken against corruption.
“I will not take responsibility because for eight years this has been the most fantastic time for Sierra Leone on the MCC scorecard ever,” Kaifala told Truth Media. “When I was appointed, the country was scoring 45 percent on the control of corruption indicator; within the shortest time the country has been scoring above 70 percent.”
The ACC Commissioner linked his comments to ongoing debates over audit findings and disputes involving Parliament, warning that the manner in which such matters are handled could affect the country’s anti-corruption progress.
He cautioned that mishandling audit reports could create “serious issues” and argued that any decline in corruption indicators would be linked to political decisions rather than shortcomings by the ACC.
“If things start slumping, it will not be my fault but because people decide to choose power over common sense,” he said.
Kaifala also praised his collaboration with President Julius Maada Bio and the government, saying their combined efforts have contributed to changing Sierra Leone’s international image on corruption.
He recalled Sierra Leone’s reputation in 2013 as one of the countries perceived among the most corrupt globally, arguing that the progress recorded since then reflects the impact of sustained anti-corruption interventions.
