By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Officer, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has successfully concluded the Southern Region leg of its nationwide Meet the People Tour with Traditional and Local Authorities, held from Tuesday 2nd to Friday 5th June 2026, engaging Paramount Chiefs and other traditional leaders across Moyamba, Bonthe, Pujehun, and Bo Districts on critical anti-corruption issues aimed at strengthening integrity, accountability, and transparency within Sierra Leone's traditional governance architecture.
Held under the theme, "Strengthening Integrity in the Traditional Governance Architecture," the engagements formed part of the Commission's sustained efforts to deepen collaboration with traditional authorities, whom it regards as indispensable partners in advancing the national fight against corruption and promoting good governance at the grassroots level.
Giving the purpose of the engagements, Deputy Commissioner Augustine Foday Ngobie noted that while the Commission has prosecuted the fight against corruption with determination since 2018, it has also identified the need for greater involvement of the revered institution of chieftaincy in shaping a culture of accountability and integrity across communities.
"We have led this fight fiercely since 2018, but we have identified some gaps, and among them is the involvement of our revered institution of chieftaincy in the fight against corruption. We believe this starts with addressing knowledge gaps on issues that concern traditional authorities directly," he stated, adding that the engagements were designed to strengthen understanding of legal obligations relating to Gifts, Conflict of Interest, Assets Declaration, and corruption reporting.
Delivering the keynote addresses, ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between customary practices and modern legal requirements, particularly on issues that frequently affect traditional leaders. "We are keen to get you to understand the law. We are on the side of modern law and you are on the side of culture. Sometimes there are grey areas that require clarification," he said.
A major focus of the discussions was the issue of gifts and their relationship to conflict of interest. Commissioner Kaifala clarified that the law neither prohibits gift-giving nor seeks to undermine traditional customs, but rather seeks to prevent situations where personal interests compromise public responsibilities.
"The only place where the law is interested is conflict of interest; where your personal interest stands in the way of the interest of the people or the work you are expected to do," he explained, adding that gifts valued above Le5,000 are required by law to be declared and recorded. While acknowledging that the statutory threshold is now considerably low, he noted that the provision remains an important safeguard against allegations of unexplained wealth and may warrant legislative review.
On Assets Declaration, the Commissioner described the regime as a protective mechanism for honest public officials, noting that declaration records often provide credible evidence of ownership and serve as an effective safeguard against future disputes and allegations.
Throughout the engagements, Paramount Chiefs welcomed the Commission's efforts to bring anti-corruption education directly to traditional authorities thereby addressing earlier apprehensions and reservations and they expressed profound appreciation for the clarifications provided on issues that frequently arise at the intersection of custom and law. They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting anti-corruption efforts and promoting accountability within their respective chiefdoms and communities.
Chairing the engagements, Patrick Sandi, Coordinator of Operations, thanked Paramount Chiefs and Local Authorities for their active contributions and assured them that the Commission remains committed to maintaining a strong partnership with traditional authorities. He encouraged them to continue reporting corruption and bringing governance concerns to the attention of the ACC.
The successful conclusion of the Southern Region Meet the People Tour marks another important milestone in the Commission's prevention and public education strategy, following similar engagements in the Eastern and North-Eastern Regions. The initiative continues to strengthen public understanding of anti-corruption laws while building strategic alliances with key governance institutions in the collective fight against scourge of corruption.
