ANTI CORRUPTION

We came into governance on the platform of change and we remain committed to it. The change that I and my supporters envisage is one that will eliminate from our cherished society those elements most responsible for our acute under development and the low standard of living of our people. The most prominent among these is “corruption” which has now become an epidemic.

Corruption is a cancer which sucks on the life blood of the nation. It makes our economy weaker, impoverishes our people and destroys our moral fabric. It also destroys our national image in the community of civilized nations and distracts investors whose resources we need for opening up opportunities for our people.
Corruption has eroded the confidence of the people in their government and private sector institutions. It is largely to blame for the poor state of our social services and infrastructure. Basically, corruption is an abhorrent practice that epitomizes lack of patriotism and self respect.

Corruption is despicable and those who practice it should be assured that there is a penalty to pay for under mining the social, economic and moral fabric of our society. I therefore implore every Sierra Leonean and whosoever conducts business within the confines of our national boundaries to join the Anti-corruption Commission in combating this menace.

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy charts the path to follow and outlines how each and every one of us as individuals or in our groups and institutions can contribute to curbing corruption in our society.

As there are demand and supply sides to corruption, an effective attack on the phenomenon requires strong partnerships among the public sector from which demand for corruption is more likely to be triggered, the private sector from which the supply is readily available and civil society as the third factor. Civil Society, as a moral guarantor for holding public and private sectors accountable to the general populace, has a special responsibility to be exemplary in the conduct of their advocacy.

As a nation, we have yet another opportunity to reverse the situation into which corruption has plunged us. Let this strategy be the beginning of a new dawn, a new era of “zero tolerance” to corruption which I promised as President and to which I remain firmly committed. Let it be known to all and sundry that corruption of any description will not be tolerated. Although “grand” corruption will receive special attention, there will be no exception in enforcing the law whether corruption is “grand corruption” or “petty corruption.” It is my fervent hope that we will all support this new strategy in fulfillment of our desire to re-establish Sierra Leone as a nation of integrity, with a changed attitude and a promising future.