In its determination to prevent and address corruption issues in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the Public Education and Outreach Department of the Anti-Corruption North-West Regional Office has held a sensitisation meeting with the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) in Port Loko.
According to the Public Education Officer Mohamed Thullah, the engagement was conducted to sensitise staff on the general work of the Commission, key corruption issues in the operations of the authority and solicit support from staff. He explained the three pronged approaches to the fight against graft.
Addressing staff of the Authority, the Regional Manager Al-Hassan Sesay recognized and acknowledged the importance of the Authority in providing quality data for socioeconomic development adding that a consolidated civil registration supports an individual’s right to recognition as a person before the law, adding that vital statistics provided by the authority could also be used to creating evidence based solutions in-terms of policies and programmes.
The Regional Head also emphasized the significance of enhancing best practices in their operations particularly in compliance to the 2016 NCRA regulation. He provided a precise appraisal on related corruption offences including but not limited to offering soliciting and accepting advantage, misappropriation of public and donor funds, abuse of office and position, influencing a public officer and other corrupt practices that constitute a contravention of the 2008 Anti-Corruption Act and as amended in 2019.
Welcoming the ACC Team, the District Registration Officer Emilson Lamin acknowledged the significant strides made in the fight against graft and explained the importance of civil registration to nation building. He stated that the sensitization engagement will serve as a guide to their operations and promised to work in line with the dictates of the 2016 regulations.
The Public Education Officer Mohamed Thullah who spoke on the role of ethics in the workplace described ethics as the moral code that guides the behavior of employees with respect to what is right and wrong in regard to conduct and decision making.
He accentuated on the effect unethical culture has on the image of institutions, adding that ethical behavior in the workplace can stimulate positive outcomes that lead to organizational growth, just as unethical behavior in the workplace brings damaging headlines that lead to organizational demise. He emphasized that the Commission was also very much concerned about key corruption issues like double dipping, absenteeism, time theft and other inadequacies. Staff of the NCRA in their various responses appreciated the ACC for such a sensitization drive as that will guide them in their interactions with the public and maintain best practice.
Questions and answers session, and the presentation of ACC’s Information, Education and Communication materials formed part of the engagement.
