The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has reinforced its campaign to promote integrity within Sierra Leone’s security sector by engaging 551 Sierra Leone Police recruits at the Sierra Leone International Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy (SILEA) in Hastings.
The awareness session, led by the ACC’s Coordinator of Operations, Patrick Sandi, focused on equipping the recruits with knowledge of the Commission’s mandate, anti-corruption prevention strategies, enforcement responsibilities and the importance of collaboration between institutions in tackling corruption.
During the engagement, the recruits received an overview of the Commission’s evolution and its legal authority under the Anti-Corruption Act, 2008, as amended in 2019.
They were also introduced to key initiatives aimed at preventing corruption, including public education campaigns, the Assets Declaration system, the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), institutional systems reviews and the ACC’s investigative and enforcement processes.
Addressing the recruits, Sandi underscored the longstanding partnership between the ACC and the Sierra Leone Police, stressing that law enforcement officers play a critical role in promoting accountability and protecting public trust.
He urged the recruits to maintain high ethical standards throughout their policing careers, describing them as future ambassadors of integrity within the Sierra Leone Police.
“We have very high expectations of you, which is why we engage you at this stage,” Sandi told the recruits, encouraging them to uphold professionalism and resist corrupt practices.
The session also included sensitization on the Whistleblower and Witness Protection Regulations, with recruits encouraged to report suspected acts of corruption through the ACC’s toll-free reporting lines: 077 985 985, 077 986 986, and 8515*
The engagement forms part of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen integrity within public institutions by instilling anti-corruption values in new entrants to the country’s security services.
