June 8, 2017
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday, 6th June, 2017, concluded eight-day long mass sensitization, aimed at increasing public awareness and knowledge on the Pay No Bribe (PNB) campaign; which has the objective of improving service delivery in key public sector institutions.
The engagements took place at lorry parks, roundabouts and densely populated areas in the Western Area urban and rural districts, with a target audience of over 2,000 people.
Addressing members of the public from all walks of life, at the different locations, Deputy Director, Public Education and Outreach, ACC Patrick Sandi said, the PNB campaign is a data capturing tool, that shows trends of bribery in MDAs for informed decision making. He emphasized that, PNB reporting platform empowers citizens to anonymously report incidents of bribery and petty corruption by calling 515 free line on all networks, the PNB website; www.pnb.gov.sl, or on the mobile application in Krio, Temne and Mende to make their complaints.
Mr. Sandi went on to say, the PNB is led jointly by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Office of the Chief of Staff in coordination with relevant MDAs with support from the Government of Sierra Leone and UK Aid. He told listeners that ACC will share the data with the MDAs who in turn will use the data to address corruption from source through administrative actions, systems review and/or policy reforms. The ACC, CSOs and the media will popularize the actions taken by MDAs for public consumption and appreciation of the project, Deputy Director furthered.
Speaking on public support to the PNB, Head of Public Education Unit, Michael Sesay emphasized that bribery of all sorts must be reported, particularly in the SLP, Health, Education, Electricity and Water sectors. He told his audience that soonest, the campaign will be expanded nationwide to include more districts and additional sectors.
PNB messages were equally transmitted to the public, coupled with the distribution of PNB brochure, wristbands and flyers by officers of the ACC-Margaret Jones, Junisa Sankoh, John Tarawally, and Mohamed Kabba.
Speaking on the role of MDAs in the campaign, representatives of EDSA, Sahr Nepor, Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) Alie Kabba, and MEST, Harding Konneh told the public they are resolve to work with the ACC and its partners in eliminating bribery in their institutions, noting, it will strengthen practices and enhance response time to clients.
In their contributions, Sahr Kendema and Victor Graff of Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), underscored the relevance of the sensitization, as it is a useful means to convey PNB messages to all categories of people in society. They called on the public to support the campaign and use the platform responsibly. Representatives outlined the role of CGG in the campaign, emphasizing, as civil society organization, they work with communities to sensitize, receive reports and provide feedbacks to the public.
The campaign targeted notably; Ogoo Farm, Juba Bridge lorry park, Regent Road /Lumley and Aberdeen roundabouts, St. John, PZ, East End Police, Up Gun, Dan Street, Shell, Texaco, PMB, Calaba Town, Jui, Waterloo/Tombo and 55 lorry parks. Similar sensitization will be replicated in the districts of Bombali, Bo, Kenema and Kono.