By: Yangie D. Sesay, Public Education Officer, ACC
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Ministry of Sport, has commenced a three-day Corruption Risk Management (CRM) Workshop aimed at strengthening institutional integrity and preventing corruption within the Ministry of Sport.
The workshop, which runs from 1st to 3rd July 2026 at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, seeks to equip participants with practical tools for identifying corruption vulnerabilities and developing effective mitigation strategies to enhance transparency, accountability, and service delivery.
Delivering the opening remarks, UNODC Representative, Festus N.B.A. Robin-Taylor Esq., disclosed that the workshop forms part of the second phase of UNODC's Anti-Corruption and Peacebuilding Project in Sierra Leone.
He explained that the project supports key public institutions, including the Ministry of Sport, Audit Service Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Finance, the National Revenue Authority, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and the Human Resource Management Office. He noted that the Ministry of Sport was selected as the pilot institution for implementing the Corruption Risk Management methodology.
Mr. Robin-Taylor emphasized that, as the custodian of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), UNODC remains committed to supporting countries in strengthening preventive anti-corruption mechanisms. He noted that combating corruption goes beyond investigation and prosecution, stressing that proactively identifying and managing corruption risks is essential to building resilient, transparent, and accountable public institutions.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sport, Swalihu K. Jusu, reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to the successful implementation of the programme. He stated that the initiative aligns with the Ministry's mandate to formulate policies and programmes that promote the development of sport in Sierra Leone and expressed confidence that the workshop would strengthen accountability and reduce corruption risks within the sector.
Facilitating a session on Corruption Risk Management, ACC Deputy Director of Prevention, Samuel Muti-Marrah Esq., distinguished corruption from corruption risk management, explaining that CRM is a structured preventive approach designed to identify corruption vulnerabilities and develop appropriate mitigation measures before corrupt practices occur.
He stressed that while corruption is often difficult to detect, empowering institutions to identify risks, assess their potential impact, and implement preventive controls significantly reduces opportunities for corruption and promotes institutional integrity.
The workshop continues with practical sessions on corruption risk identification, risk assessment, and the development of mitigation plans to strengthen governance systems within the Ministry of Sport.
