By: Abdulai Saccoh, Senior Public Education Officer, ACC
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Southern Region Office, has called on staff of the District Health Management Team (DHMT) in Bo to uphold the highest standards of professional ethics in the delivery of healthcare services. The engagement, held on Tuesday, 21st April 2026, at the DHMT Conference Hall, served as a clarion call for health workers to demonstrate selflessness and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
Delivering the keynote address, ACC’s Acting Regional Director (South), Michael Sesay, outlined the Commission’s holistic approach in the fight against corruption. He highlighted ACC’s three-pronged strategy, public education, prevention, and enforcement, emphasizing that while the Commission remains resolute in confronting offenders, its foremost priority is to prevent corruption through sustained public education and institutional safeguards. Director Sesay reminded healthcare workers of their core mandate of saving lives, stressing that such responsibility must never be compromised for personal gain.
“When corruption seeps into your operations, you are not just stealing funds; you are compromising the very survival of our citizens,” he stated. He urged them to uphold integrity as the only enduring currency that adds value to their service, adding that collective efforts are required to rid the sector of fraud, waste, and abuse.
In his presentation, ACC Senior Public Education Officer, Abdulai Saccoh, highlighted unethical practices that threaten progress in the health sector. He cited time theft, absenteeism, diversion of drugs and medical equipment, extortion for free healthcare services, and coercion of vulnerable patients as acts that must be decisively eliminated. He noted that such practices leave patients stranded and undermine public confidence in the health system.
Mr. Saccoh further emphasized that achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all, will remain unattainable unless healthcare workers collectively confront corruption.
Earlier, the District Medical Officer (DMO) and Head of DHMT, Dr. Amara Steven Ngegbai, reaffirmed the team’s commitment to professionalism and ethical conduct. He acknowledged that the fight against corruption requires a collective effort from both frontline staff in Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) and the management team, working in alignment with best practices. He encouraged staff to resist all forms of temptation and uphold standards that inspire public trust and confidence.
ACC Public Education Officer, Mohamed A. Kabba, described the engagement as both an educational and interactive platform aimed at strengthening anti-corruption safeguards within the health sector. He emphasized that transparency, accountability, and integrity must be consistently upheld to curb unethical practices.
In her remarks, District Health Sister (1), Matron Hawa Daramy, expressed appreciation to the Commission for what she described as a timely and impactful intervention. She reminded her colleagues that their uniforms symbolize hope and care, not hardship or exploitation for patients. She added that the sensitization has equipped staff with the knowledge needed to resist corrupt practices.
The engagement concluded with a plenary session, allowing participants to discuss practical steps for strengthening integrity and accountability within the healthcare system.
