The government… is aquiver

Corruption… I’ve written about it before and am revisiting the topic because it’s been all over the news here in Sierra Leone – again. This time, however, the “barking dog has teeth”, as they say, and arrests, convictions and charges are in the air – and courts.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is an independent body set up to investigate and charge folks suspected of corruption, which, as you know, is rampant here in Sierra Leone – from police officers on the street right up through the highest levels of government. (I wish they’d do something about police corruption – bribery – but that seems to be just a fact of life here) One of the posters created by the ACC pictures a set of handcuffs with the slogan “one size fits all, even the big fishes”. And, interestingly, the ACC logo is a fierce looking eagle (or “ack”, a vicious bird of prey) that stares down its beak at any and all who dare glance in its direction.


Speaking of “big fishes”, Afsata Kabba, the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources has just been relieved of her duties and charged with 17 counts of corruption… (“soliciting and accepting advantage” – nice terms for severely corrupt behaviour) It’s reported that she accepted thousands of dollars in bribes from the “fish mafia” operating off the coast of Sierra Leone. This after being “sacked and moved” from her position as Minister of Energy and Power, in early 2009, under suspicious circumstances – some say corrupt practices in that ministry as well. She ran the Fisheries Ministry for just under a year and now faces jail time, fines, etc. if she’s convicted. The war in the media continues over this matter – some supportive (paid off) publishers say she’s a “marine-heroine” and some say she’s a dastardly, evil, “fishy-mastermind”.

In November 2009, the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Sheiku Tejan Koroma, was relieved of his duties under suspicion of “accepting influence”, “abuse of office” and mismanagement of funds in his ministry. The Anti-Corruption Commission found several instances of suspicious misbehaviour and charged the (no-longer honourable) Minister with corruption… leading to a recent conviction in court and a sentence of five years imprisonment or payment of fines totalling approximately one hundred and fifty million Leones (about $40,000USD).

Apparently the former Minister visited the courts late last week and paid the fine – probably out of the mismanaged or ill-gotten monies while he was Minister… thereby avoiding a jail term in the Pademba Road prison – arguably one of the worst jails in the world. No doubt, if convicted, the former Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources will opt for the same route… again, paying the fines out of ill-gotten monies, I’m sure.

The National Revenue Authority (NRA) the government department responsible for tax collection, customs, etc. has also been shaken up. Last week, five “high up” men were suspended – some say “arrested” – for mismanagement and corrupt activities surrounding import containers and tax collection.

And, “the Commissioner, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has informed the Office of the President that since October this year, the ACC has been investigating specific reports of allegations made against, Mr. Allieu Sesay, the Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA). The allegations include inter alia misappropriation of public funds, misappropriation of donor funds, abuse of office, abuse of position, corrupt acquisition of wealth, fraudulent or wilful or negligent failure to comply with procurement laws or procedures and conflict of interest.”

The ACC is cracking down… and the head of the ACC, Abdul Tejan-Cole, is bent on challenging, investigating and prosecuting those “big fishes” who continue to abuse their positions of authority and responsibility. Who’s next is anyone’s guess… but I’m hoping the “barking dog continues to bite” in the fight against corruption. Nothing is more frustrating… or disheartening to the people of Sierra Leone.

Perhaps there’s hope…
Stephen