The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Kono Regional Office, on Wednesday, 19th August 2026, engaged executive members of the Sierra Leone Commercial Bike Riders Union, Kono District Branch, as part of its public education and corruption prevention campaign.The engagement sought to mobilise commercial bike riders as partners in the fight against corruption and ambassadors of integrity within the informal sector.
In his presentation, ACC Kono Regional Director, Andrew Demby Esq., acknowledged the significant role commercial bike riders play in sustaining the social and economic life of the district. He noted that their importance to national development was reflected in their inclusion among key stakeholders consulted by the Commission during the development of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024–2028.
Mr. Demby observed that, beyond providing livelihoods and facilitating access to public services, commercial bike riders interact extensively with citizens, government institutions and private actors, placing them in a strategic position to identify and help prevent corrupt practices.He said the ACC therefore intends to leverage this vantage position to build a stronger coalition with the union, transforming riders “from transport promoters to partners in integrity and national development.”
The Regional Director encouraged the riders to report suspected acts of corruption to the Commission, assuring them that the Whistleblower and Witness Protection Regulations 2025 provide safeguards for persons who report corruption in good faith.
He, however, cautioned that the responsibility to uphold integrity also applies to the riders themselves. Invoking the maxim, “he that comes to equity must come with clean hands,” Mr. Demby urged them to comply with the law by paying required dues and taxes, properly licensing their motorcycles and observing other statutory requirements.He noted that non-compliance not only deprives the state of much-needed revenue but could also place riders in conflict with the law.
Responding to the engagement, Chairman of the Kono Bike Riders Union, Mohamed Fayia, commended the ACC for recognising the strategic role of commercial bike riders in the district.
Mr. Fayia described the riders as “the lubricants that grease the engine of economic and social activities in the district,” noting that motorcycles remain one of the principal means of transportation in Kono.He welcomed the partnership with the ACC, observing that riders are strategically positioned to witness developments at community level and “see what the Commission does not see.”
He expressed appreciation for the engagement, saying it had reinforced the importance of the union while encouraging its members to resist, reject and report corruption.
