By: Patrick Hinga George, Public Education Officer, ACC
The Eastern Regional Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Kenema, on Thursday, 6 August 2026, commenced a series of customised engagements with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the Eastern Region with an engagement with staff of Social Enterprise Development Sierra Leone (SEND-SL) at its Conference Hall, 3 Amie Jay Drive Reservation, Kenema.
The initiative seeks to strengthen integrity, accountability and corruption prevention within the NGO sector, particularly in the management of donor funds and other resources entrusted to organisations for public benefit.
Explaining the purpose of the engagement, the ACC Regional Director, Madam Hawanatu O. Kamara, said the initiative forms part of the Commission’s proactive corruption prevention and public education strategy. She clarified that the engagement was not prompted by a complaint or intended to intimidate SEND-SL, but to strengthen understanding of corruption risks and preventive measures.
Madam Kamara noted that the ACC’s mandate extends beyond Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to private organisations and individuals where they manage resources or provide services for the benefit of the public. She therefore urged NGOs to recognise their responsibility to maintain high standards of transparency and accountability.
She said the engagement would also deepen staff understanding of corruption-related offences relevant to NGO operations and create opportunities for the integration of anti-corruption messages into community interventions. Given SEND-SL’s extensive community outreach, she noted that collaboration with the organisation could help broaden public awareness of corruption prevention.
Speaking on prevention, the Commission’s Prevention Officer, Mrs. Abiebatu Abu-Mattia, urged SEND-SL to strengthen internal controls through clear anti-corruption policies, transparent financial and procurement systems, regular audits and effective conflict-of-interest management.
She noted that robust controls help prevent abuse and misappropriation, protect donor resources, strengthen institutional credibility and ensure that resources reach intended beneficiaries.
The ACC’s Investigation Officer, Andrew Komeh, highlighted key corruption risks in NGO operations, particularly in procurement, contract management and project implementation. These, he said, include favouritism in supplier and contractor selection, inflated contract values, fictitious beneficiaries, false documentation, reporting of unimplemented activities, unjustified sole sourcing and contract splitting.
Mr. Komeh further explained that practices such as misappropriation of donor funds or property, conspiracy to commit a corruption offence, abuse of office or position, soliciting or accepting an advantage, and failure to comply with established procurement procedures could constitute offences under the Anti-Corruption Act.
He noted that upon conviction, corruption offences may attract imprisonment, fines, or both, while offenders may also face confiscation of illicitly acquired wealth, disqualification from holding public office and reputational damage.
At the institutional level, he warned that corruption can undermine donor confidence, jeopardise future funding, weaken staff morale and erode public trust.
Responding on behalf of SEND-SL, the Human Resource Manager, Mrs. Lillian Mamie Lamin, described the engagement as timely, educative and relevant. She reaffirmed SEND-SL’s commitment to accountability, transparency and integrity and welcomed closer collaboration with the ACC.
Mrs. Lamin noted that SEND-SL’s extensive community presence provides an effective platform for promoting anti-corruption messages and assured the Commission of the organisation’s commitment to strengthening compliance systems, safeguarding donor resources and promoting ethical conduct.
