By: Nafisatu Konuwa, Public Education Officer and Sembu Sesay, Intern
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Northern Regional Office has engaged staff and students of the School of Midwifery in Makeni as part of the Commission's ongoing public education and corruption prevention initiatives targeting public institutions.The engagement, held on Wednesday, 8th July 2026, sought to enhance participants' understanding of the Anti-Corruption Act, promote ethical conduct, and strengthen integrity and accountability within the healthcare sector.
Welcoming the ACC team, the Principal of the School of Midwifery, Dr. Francess Fornah, expressed appreciation to the Commission for the timely engagement and noted that a sound understanding of the principles and provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act is essential to promoting integrity and eliminating corruption in the health sector.She encouraged staff and students to actively participate in the session and apply the knowledge acquired in their professional practice.
Delivering the keynote presentation, ACC Senior Public Education Officer,Mohamed Thullah, emphasized the critical role healthcare professionals play in safeguarding public health and delivering essential services to citizens. He reminded participants that they are entrusted with public resources and must uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, transparency, and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
Mr. Thullah cautioned against corrupt practices within the health sector, including soliciting or accepting money for services covered under the Government's Free Healthcare Programme, as well as the diversion or unauthorized sale of medicines and medical supplies intended for public use. He noted that such practices not only undermine public trust and deny citizens access to quality healthcare services but also constitute offences under the Anti-Corruption Act.He further highlighted the importance of safeguarding public resources, stressing that the misappropriation of government funds, medical equipment, medicines, and other public assets for personal gain amounts to corruption and attracts legal sanctions.
The Senior Public Education Officer also introduced the Commission's Three Rs Campaign, Resist, Reject, and Report Corruption,and encouraged participants to become ambassadors of integrity within their respective spheres of influence. He further urged the school's management to strengthen its internal control systems and promptly report suspected acts of corruption through the Commission's established reporting channels.
Participants were also sensitized on key provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, including offences relating to offering, soliciting, or accepting an advantage, abuse of office or position, and the penalties associated with corruption offences.
The engagement concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session during which participants sought clarification on various aspects of the Anti-Corruption Act and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting integrity, accountability, and transparency in healthcare service delivery.
