The Senior Investigator assured the group of Sierra Leone Police personnel, Road Safety Corps and Immigration officers that, ACC were at the checkpoint to observe their operations and also to sensitize them on issues of bribery and the work of the Commission.
“It is important that we make unannounced visits, to see how you carry out with your duty. By so doing, the ACC to ensure that issues of bribery are tackled at the check point”, Mr. Koroma averred.
He told them that the team is not there to investigate or probe anyone, but to ensure that the proper thing is done. He noted that the Sierra Leone Police and the ACC have long standing partnership to minimize corruption and bribery through the Pay No Bribe (PNB) campaign. He said this collaboration is evidenced by monthly Regional Technical Working Group meetings held across ACC offices in the country.
Mr. Koroma disclosed that the May 2019 PNB report revealed that only one incidence of bribery reported against the police in Kono district. He said, data on monthly reports in all MDAs is sourced from reports made to the Commission from the public to the PNB Platform and Call Center in Freetown.
Public Education Officer ACC, Aiah Sourie, emphasized the need to robustly continue to work with the police in suppressing corruption. He disclosed that unlicensed motorbikes and defective vehicles always ply the roads, but not many are arrested, investigated and subsequently charged with traffic offences.
Mr. Sourie further pointed out that lawless commercial motorbike riders and motor drivers pose a serious threat to the security and safety of pedestrians and passengers, and that some stringent measures should be adopted to make the roads safe for use.
In his contribution, Inspector Sheku Jabbie, Officer-in-Charge of the Mambudu Checkpoint, said the alliance between the ACC and the Sierra Leone Police has helped to minimize corruption at the check point, adding that, such collaboration should be strengthened to keep corruption at an insignificant level. He emphasized that, they appreciate the engagement and assured the team of their commitment to eliminate or minimize corruption at all levels.
