2. Page 2 In response to increasing public reports of extortion and bribery at police checkpoints, the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday, 15th October 2025, conducted a series of spot checks across various checkpoints in Port Loko and Kambia Districts. The exercise, which took place at Mange, Maforki, and Rogbala - Lunsar checkpoints in Port Loko District and Mile18 checkpoint in Kambia District, aimed at curbing corrupt practices and restoring public confidence. In her address to the police officers and other public officers, the Commission ’ s North - West Regional Director, Zainab Othman, emphasized the need for immediate action. “ The integrity of our law enforcement agencies is paramount, ” she stated. Md. Othman pointed out that corruption among police officers dwindles public trust and undermines the rule of law, adding that the officers must ensure that they serve and protect road users and the general public without resorting to corrupt practices. She cited a viral video on social media in which a driver was seen expressing frustration over allegations of police officers soliciting bribes at checkpoints. The driver recounted that drivers were coerced into paying money to avoid fines or to secure the release of their vehicles, many claiming they felt power- less against such abuses. "We are urging all officers to execute their duties with the highest level of integrity and professionalism. There is zero tolerance for any form of corruption," said Director Othman. Md. Othman further warned the police officers that corruption would not be tolerated and that they would face the wrath of ACC if they get involved in bribery and extortion, or any other form of corruption. The Regional Head also stressed that corruption at checkpoints hampers national efforts to provide nec- essary security and a safe environment for the citizenry During the exercise at Mange Checkpoint, Inspector Alimamy Israel Kamara thanked the ACC team for engaging the personnel, stating that their duty as law enforcement officers is to protect citizens and facilitate their passage safely and not to do anything outside the law. He added that he had been reinforcing the culture of professionalism among his colleagues and promised to abide by the ACC laws. Sergeant Mohamed Kamara, who oversees the Maforki Checkpoint, underscored the significance of the AC- C's exercise and also pledged to sup- port the fight against corruption. His counterparts at Mile 18 and Rogbala Lunsar checkpoints expressed similar views. ACC staff and police personnel at Mange Police checkpoint in Port Loko District ACC staff and police personnel at 18 Mile Police Checkpoint in Kambia District

1. Contd. Page 4 11 Mobile No: 8515 on all Networks EDITORIAL TEA M EDITOR - IN - CHIEF Aiah P. M. Sourie EDITORS Sylvanus Blake Alex A. Bah LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Philippa M Davies EDITORIAL ADVISERS Augustine Foday Ngobie Patrick Sandi Abubakarr Turay 13th — 17 th October 2025 ISSUE 3, VOLUME 18 ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. (L) presenting the cheque to the Chief Administrator of the FCC Rahman Tom Farmar The Commissioner of the Anti - Corruption Commission (ACC) Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. on Monday, 20 th October 2025, presented another cheque of One Million Leones (Le1,000,000.00) equivalent to One Billion old Leones (Le1,000,000,000) to the Chief Administrator of the Freetown City Council (FCC) Rahman Tom Farmar as part of ongoing efforts to recover funds misappropriated from the Council ’ s accounts domiciled at a commercial bank. The handing over took place at the Commissioner ’ s Office, Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown. This latest payment marks the second tranche of recovered funds following the Commission ’ s investigation into alleged diversion of Three Million Leones (3 billion old Leones) from the Council ’ s revenue, using the FCC Football Club account as a conduit. Presenting the cheque, Commissioner of the ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., reaffirmed the ACC ’ s commitment to recover all public funds lost to corruption, emphasizing that the Commission remains steadfast in ensuring integrity and accountability in public institutions. Receiving the cheque, the Chief Administrator of the Council commended the Commission for its efforts in safeguarding public resources, noting “ this payment could not have come at a better time. ” Present at the short presentation event were the ACC ’ s Director of Finance Sheku Kanu and Deputy Director of Investigation Joseph Noah, among others. It could be recalled that, July 9 this year, the Commission presented the first cheque of One Million Leones (1 billion old Leones) to the Mayor of Freetown, Her Worship Yvonne Aki - Sawyer, as part of funds recovered from the said fraudulent scheme. By Amie Massaquoi, Information Officer, ACC

3. Page 3 MAFS staff listening to the anti - corruption messages ACC staff at seated left listening to contributions from participants In its quest to enhance effective service delivery, integrity, transparency and accountability in government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA), the North East regional office of the Anti - Corruption Commission engaged staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) in Makeni on Tuesday, 14th October 2025. The engagement which was hosted at the Ministry ’ s conference hall was also attended by project staff attached to the Ministry. ACC ’ s Regional Manager, Al - Hassan Sesay, said the engagement was held to enhance ethics, integrity and strengthen collaboration between both institutions. He added that the engagement was to remind staff of the ministry about their roles and responsibilities in upholding best practices and dissociate from corrupt practices. The Regional Manager made clear that although the Commission investigates and prosecutes corruption, it prioritises prevention. This, he explained, is mostly done through disseminating adequate information and education and carrying out corruption risk assessments and preventive interventions in public bodies. He therefore assured the MAFS staff of ACC ’ s determination to collaborate in addressing corruption vulnerabilities within the ministry. Speaking on key corruption issues and some offences in the Anti - Corruption Act of 2008 (amended in 2019), ACC Regional Director, Fatu Florence Kamara, recognized the importance of the Ministry to the growth of the nation. “ The Agriculture Sector is crucial to the overall development of the country, ” she emphasized, adding that the introduction of the Feed Salone initiative in 2023, which is aimed at achieving food security, increased export earning, among other things, confers more relevance on the sector. She however cautioned that corruption is a serious menace and efforts should be made to preclude it from hampering the implementation of the initiative. While highlighting that corruption would cause loss of funds and agricultural inputs, worsen poverty and hunger, the Regional Director encouraged staff of the ministry to commit to upholding the standard procedures that govern the implementation of Feed Salone. ‘ The success of this ambitious initiative is in our hands as Sierra Leoneans. You who are directly working in the MAFS should take the lead to ensure that the initiative is safely taken to its destination, ’ she emphasized. Director Kamara explained some of the offences that relate the staff ’ s work. She mentioned Misappropriation of Public or Donor Funds or Property, Offering, Soliciting and Accepting Advantage, Abuse of Office and Position among others. She explained the punishment for each of the offences and cautioned them to desist from such practices. Speaking on ethics, integrity and accountability in the workplace, ACC Prevention Officer, Musa Mansaray, informed the MAFS workers that the ACC has a capable Prevention Department tasked to thoroughly assess corruption risks in MDAs, adding that the Commission is always willing to strategically support them to run a more efficient sector. The Prevention Officer underscored that enhancing ethics and integrity constitutes one of the methods the ACC uses to prevent corruption in MDAs. “ It takes years to build reputation but a moment to destroy that reputation by not imbibing ethics and integrity ” he noted . He used the occasion to explain the ethical issues within MDAs that constitute corruption vulnerabilities and warned all present to be mindful of the anti - corruption laws and uphold best practices. Ambrose Tieh, ACC Intern, explained the various methods of making reports to the ACC and protecting informants. He emphasized that confidentiality and anonymity are amongst the measures for protecting whistleblowers. Tieh explained the 10 percent reward to informants upon recovery but warned his audience against making false reports which constitutes a punishable offence. Responding to the anti - corruption messages, Lahai Bangura, Crops Officer, on behalf of the District Agriculture Officer, thanked the ACC for the meeting while commending its preventive methods. He pledged that the MAFS would guard the Feed Salone and other agricultural programmes against corruption by maintaining integrity as the bedrock of quality public service delivery. He called for more engagements and strategic partnership with the ACC. A question - and - answer session formed part of the engagement, followed by a presentation of information, education and communication materials by the Director to the ministry.

4. Page 4 Corruption doesn ’ t always pull the trigger, yet it leaves bodies behind. It doesn ’ t wield a machete, but it slashes dreams, futures and nations apart. Its poison seeps quietly into the veins of our institutions and before we realize it, the heartbeat of a people begins to slow. Every bribe taken, every corner cut, every law bent for personal gain silently builds the road to destruction. Corruption is not a victimless act, it is a murderer dressed in respectability, shaking hands in daylight while burying nations in the dark. When it takes root, hospitals don ’ t just lack medicine, they lack mercy. Schools don ’ t just fail to teach, they manufacture ignorance. And when corruption grips the hands of those meant to protect, it becomes a silent assassin that kills trust, justice and peace. We have seen it before, societies that traded integrity for indulgence only to wake up amid ashes and regret. The greatest tragedy of corruption is that it kills before it kills, it destroys the moral immune system of a people until the death of their dreams feels normal. This series “ Corruption Doesn ’ t Just Destroy, It KILLS! ” exists to unmask the true face of corruption, to show that every dishonest act, every abuse of power, every betrayal of public trust does not just destroy systems, it kills souls, futures and nations. The Security Sector is the heartbeat of national peace and stability. It includes the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Office of National Security (ONS), the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the National Fire Force (NFF), institutions entrusted with the sacred duty to protect life, property and sovereignty. But when corruption seeps into this sacred circle, the protectors can become the predators; the shield turns into the sword. Picture a border officer who accepts a bribe and waves through a truck without inspection. It may look harmless in that moment, but that single act could allow the entry of arms, ammunition or drugs, seeds of violence and destruction. One man ’ s greed can unlock a decade of national suffering. Our history bears witness – the eleven - year civil war that ravaged Sierra Leone was not just born out of political tension, it was nourished by corruption, betrayal and moral decay. It wasn ’ t only buildings that fell; human dignity, trust and hope were reduced to rubble. When a police officer demands “ something for the boys ” before enforcing the law, justice becomes a commodity. When a soldier sells national secrets or misuses logistics intended for peacekeeping, he endangers the very people he vowed to defend. When a fire officer overlooks safety violations for a By Patrick Hinga George, Public Education Officer, ACC bribe, he silently signs death warrants. These are not small acts; they are lethal choices. Corruption within the security sector is not a mere administrative offence, it is a slow - moving national suicide. It exposes the country to insecurity, opens the doors for drug cartels, human trafficking, terrorism and rebellion. And the irony is bitter: those on the frontline, the soldiers, police officers and firefighters, are often the first to pay the price when the chaos they enabled turns back against them. Corruption spares no one! It consumes everything within reach - wealth, reputation and generations yet unborn. Security begins and ends at the borders and when officers assigned to protect the nation ’ s entry points trade integrity for cash, they invite danger disguised as commerce. Illegal arms and narcotics do not only threaten national peace, they cripple the future of the youth, who are the nation ’ s most vital human resource. Drugs and war have always been partners in destruction, fuelling each other, feeding the cycle of violence, hopelessness and death. Corruption in the security chain doesn ’ t only destroy institutions, but it kills the very people it is meant to safeguard. And when the security sector collapses under the weight of corruption, every other sector trembles. Therefore, let this sermon sink into our hearts. All that is needed now is WISDOM and that which is rooted in the fear of God. Without that fear, corruption finds a comfortable home in the human heart and we must remember: this world is not our permanent dwelling. It is a temporary island that will one day sink, and the wealth we gather through deceit will sink with it. The power, the influence, the status, all will fade. What remains is the legacy of integrity we leave behind. If humanity learns to seek divine wisdom, the kind that teaches truth, humility, and justice, then corruption will lose its grip. Wisdom reveals that real wealth does not come from manipulation or greed, but from clean hands and pure hearts. Whatever we touch, if it is done in truth, shall prosper and last. Let this truth echo through every institution, every home and every conscience: Corruption doesn ’ t just destroy – it kills! It kills the conscience before it kills the body. t kills justice before it kills peace. It kills a nation long before the bullets do.