The Manager of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Regional Office in Kono Hawanatu Omotayo Kamara has, called on farmers in the District to make good use of the fertilizers supplied to them by the Government of Sierra Leone to aid their farming activities. The Manager was speaking on 3rd October, 2023 during the supply of fertilizers by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to farmers, at the MAF office in Koidu City, Kono District.
Mrs. Kamara told the farmers that the ACC’s mandate is to ensure value for money in all Government and Donor expenditures. She said that the fertilizers the farmers were about to receive was part of the Government’s measures to improve farming so that the country would be self-sufficient. Agriculture, she furthered, is one of the top five priorities of the Government and that farmers should do everything it takes to support the Government’s agenda by ensuring food for all.
The ACC Regional Manager assured the farmers that their hopes for a better Sierra Leone would be restored if they ensured the fertilizers were directed at the right purpose and tried to imbibe the values of integrity, transparency and accountability in their work. She said that agriculture is the bedrock of development and a vehicle to the country’s attainment of food self-sufficiency.
Mrs. Kamara also said that the Government of Sierra Leone has spent huge sums of money on the agricultural sector, but that corruption has been an impediment causing the country to import rice instead of growing its own. She stated that corruption has permeated every aspect of society, something that has made public support pivotal in addressing it. “There will be huge improvement in the lives of the farmers and their trade if they joined and support the fight against corruption in the District,” she said.
Speaking on the need for collaboration and partnership, Mrs. Kamara told the farmers that the ACC, as the lead institution in the fight against corruption in the country, cannot succeed without the support of every Sierra Leonean, particularly the farmers who play pivotal role in the country’s socio-economic development. Partnership and collaboration, according to the Manager, is key and the more reason for the intensification in public education on the general work of the Commission.
The Manager urged the farmers to detest corruption and encouraged them to resist, reject and report acts of corruption through the toll-free lines of 077985985 and 077986986. She assured them of the protection provided by Section 81 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 (as amended in 2019) for those making corruption reports to the Commission. She further disclosed to them the re-introduction of the 10% reward scheme for any matter reported by members of the public that resulted in a successful recovery.
The Kono District Agricultural Officer, Lamin Mbogba, welcomed the Regional Manager of the ACC and expressed profound thanks and appreciation for conveying anti-corruption messages to farmers in the district. He commended the ACC for the good work they have been doing in ridding corruption in every aspect of society in the country. He therefore urged the farmers to continue working hard in supporting the Government’s dream of food security in the country.“The Government is only there to take the lead in development but cannot succeed without the citizens’ support,” the Agricultural Officer concluded.
