By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Officer, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and citizen-centered governance, highlighting major strides made in promoting openness and integrity in its effort to instill integrity and combat the scourge of corruption.
The Commission made the disclosure while participating in the 15th Open Government Partnership (OGP) Week celebration organized by the National Council for Civic Education and Democracy at the Foreign Service Academy Auditorium in Freetown on 21st May, 2026.
Speaking during a high-level expert panel discussion, the Commissioner of the ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., reflected on his OGP journey, which dates back to 2013 when he served as Legal Adviser to the OGP process in Sierra Leone.
He noted that since becoming Commissioner, one of his major priorities has been advancing openness and public access to governance processes, stressing that although the ACC is an independent institution, it remains committed to supporting government’s broader agenda for transparency and accountability.
“One of the commitments we owe Sierra Leoneans is ensuring openness and access to the work of Government," the Commissioner stated.
Central to his remarks was the expansion of Integrity Management Committees (IMCs) across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), which he described as “small ACCs” operating within public institutions to strengthen accountability systems and detect institutional vulnerabilities before they escalate into corruption issues.
According to the Commissioner, the number of IMCs has increased from 79 in 2019 to 118 nationwide, with 98 already monitored and assessed by the Commission.
He said that the initiative has significantly improved integrity standards within the public sector while encouraging healthy competition among MDAs to improve transparency, ethical compliance and service delivery.
The Commissioner further highlighted the ACC’s strong commitment to access to information and public engagement, noting that journalists, researchers and ordinary citizens frequently commend the institution for its prompt responsiveness to requests for information.
He pointed to the Commission’s routinely updated website, active information desk and strong collaboration with civil society organizations and the media as evidence of the ACC’s openness and people-centered approach.
“When we attend anti-corruption engagements across the world, many African countries openly confess admiration of Sierra Leone’s proactive media and civil society engagement,” he stated.
He added that, unlike many anti-corruption institutions that maintain difficult relationships with the press, the ACC sees the media as a strategic partner in promoting accountability and public trust.
Delivering the keynote address, Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the OGP process and commended the ACC for the significant progress it continues to make in strengthening integrity and accountability systems in Sierra Leone.
The Chief Minister specifically referenced Sierra Leone’s improvement in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index rankings, noting that the country moved from 130 in 2019 to 109, describing the improvement as evidence of growing institutional reforms and sustained anti-corruption efforts in the country.
Other participants at the event included Emmanuel Gaima, Principal Advsier to His Excellency the President and Head of the Public Sector Reform Unit; Abdel Aziz Bawoh, Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education; Gilbert N’habay, Deputy Clerk of Parliament; Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, Commissioner Rights to Access Information; Jeremy Ben Simbo, Acting Executive Director, Center for Accountability and Rule of Law; and Isata Mahoi, Minister of Gender and Children's Affairs who moderted the Panel.
The OGP Week is a global observance marked annually by member countries of the OGP to promote transparency, accountability, citizen participation and inclusive governance. Sierra Leone joined the initiative in 2013 as part of international efforts to strengthen democratic governance, improve public trust in state institutions and deepen collaboration between government and citizens in national development processes.
