ACC Deputy Commissioner Attends Social Protection Inter-Agency Forum Meeting in Kabala

The Deputy Commissioner, Anti-Corruption Commission Sierra Leone (ACC-SL) Augustine Foday Ngobie on Monday 19th December 2022, joined other stakeholders in the Social Protection sphere for a two-day engagement that is aimed at drawing from the lessons learned in the roll-out of various Social Protection projects and strengthening synergies going forward.

The meeting which was held at the Community Plaza, Old Makeni Road, Kabala Town, Koinadugu District, attracted key stakeholders in the social protection sector, including but not limited to the Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Mrs. Francess Alghali, (the Vice President is the Chairman of the Forum), the Minister of Labour, Hon. Alpha Timbo, Ministries of Social Welfare and Agriculture, NASSIT, NaCSA, Statistics Sierra Leone, Local Councils, UNICEF, World Bank, UNHCR, etc.

The Social Protection Inter-Agency Forum (SP-IAF) is the highest leadership forum that requires at least one annual meeting that will allow for a review of the general implementation of all Social Protection related projects and programs to identify and mitigate gaps, prevent duplication, ward off possible mismanagement and sustain synergy.

Since its commencement, the SP-IAF meetings have helped strengthen inter-agency partnerships and collaboration between and among stakeholders, leading to greater success in the implementation of crucial Social Protection projects, like the RE-SSN, SSN, SDF, PSSNYE, etc.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Labour, Hon. Alpha Osman Timbo.

In his presentation, the Deputy Commissioner ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie dilated on the role of the ACC in the implementation of the Social Protection programs which is, the spearheading of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) component, that seeks to address swiftly and appropriately all complaints emanating from project beneficiaries and communities, noting also that, the ACC will continue to ensure the integrity and transparency of the SSN projects are protected.

“I wish to assure all poor and vulnerable household beneficiaries and their communities that the People’s Commission shall at all times maintain the highest level of vigilance. They will get their monies and every other resource due them.

Anyone who attempts to thwart the good intentions of Social Safety Net Projects shall be adequately dealt with, he started.