KEYNOTE ADDRESS
BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT
ALHAJI DR AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH
AT THE OPENING OF THE BO ANTI CORRUPTION COMMISSION OFFICE
ON FRIDAY, 15TH OCTOBER 2004

I am very pleased to be here today to officiate at the opening of the Bo Office of the Anti Corruption Commission which brings the people of Bo nearer to achieving my goal that all the citizens of this country should have the opportunity to participate in the promotion of an accountable and transparent government.

I reiterate my view that corruption is an impediment to the promotion of good governance. It is an evil that cannot and should not be tolerated in our society. I have said more than once that corruption restricts development, retards economic growth and undermines programmes that are designed specifically to benefit the poor. As we may all be aware, the negative impact of corruption is greatest on the poor and vulnerable in our society and therefore runs contrary to our poverty reduction strategy goals. In short, corruption seriously impedes our efforts to pursue proactive reconstruction and development of our country.

I can recall a declaration I made some time last year, that corruption was and is still a national security issue - a threat to the security of Sierra Leone. This was intended to underscore that the problem of corruption is still grave and its effects will continue to undermine the economic, social and political stability of the country. We maintain our resolve to fight it.

It is for the above reasons that I have made it very clear that high on my agenda is support for the Anti Corruption Commission. The Commission stands as an example of my government's commitment to tackle issues of public trust and good governance.

Whilst it is important for government to continue to demonstrate the necessary commitment and political will to tackle the problem from the top, other strategies must exist to support the process:

v Civil Society must be involved because doing so will help to create an environment where corruption is openly discussed. I continue to hold the view that Civil Society has an important part to play in the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone. Civil Society which I believe consists of a vibrant network of diverse talents, has a vested interest in getting actively involved, since most corruption involves two principal players - the government and the private sector, including the givers and takers, with the ordinary citizens as we have noted, becoming the major victims.

v In order for public officials to be held accountable, we should continue to insist that the workings of Government and its finances become more open to scrutiny. Only by having a high degree of transparency can Government be effective. We are committed to ensuring that there is access to information for citizens on Government activities and that our doors are open to the public.

v There must also be an increased involvement of professional associations in the fight against corruption, bringing their various expertise to augment Government's efforts.

v Civil Society should be strong advocates for reform; a 'zero tolerance' of corruption must become the aim of such a strategy. Zero tolerance not only helps to save valuable national resources, it also sends positive signals to our development partners that we are ready and able to use their assistance in a responsible and transparent manner.

v The media in particular must continue to play their role in the fight against corruption. Media reports have been helpful by bringing into the public domain issues of corruption; this is good for the nation because this helps to strengthen existing forms of checks and balances that deter over zealousness by public officers. However, the media should adopt high standards of professionalism and be motivated by sincerity and the national interest, rather than the need to gain political "mileage" or secure personal benefits.

v We should encourage all stakeholders, both public and private, to get involved in making sure that outdated and irrelevant rules, policies and procedures are revised and opportunities for corruption removed. Persons employed in the public sector especially at senior level must demonstrate by example that they are performing in a way that is a good example to their subordinates and that they have the will to remove those who are involved in corrupt practices and not turn a blind eye to crime.

v They must lead from the front and help develop a set of best practices in the public service.

v I want to see more emphasis on structural reforms in areas such as public procurement, the civil service, the Judiciary and financial management in order to reduce bottlenecks and promote efficiency, transparency and accountability.

v There should be an increased dialogue between government and the donor community on fighting corruption in order that both sides are able to understand the position of each other so that the donor community is able, confidently, to provide maximum support. The fight against corruption cannot be won in Sierra Leone without the assistance and wider participation of the donor community.

I believe that the Commission stands at the forefront of our national anti corruption campaign and that my Government has demonstrated the correct political will and commitment that promotes and supports such a campaign.

As many of you know, this Government and the ACC in particular, are in the midst of developing a National Anti Corruption Strategy. It will be a document that outlines the steps necessary to eliminate opportunities for corrupt behaviour as well as highlighting the root causes of corruption in the country. We ask that the entire nation especially civil society organizations and government offices provide full support to this endeavour.

I believe that this is the only way to progress because it will enable the public at grass root level to see that there are and will be visible possibilities of benefits and will accordingly support the campaign initiatives.

Before I end this address, let me take this opportunity to thank the Commissioner and the Commission for their 2003 Annual Report which has just been presented to me. The Report as would be expected, contains details of the Commission's achievements in the past year, and the challenges that had to be addressed. On the whole the report records significant progress in the Commission's work and I would like to take this opportunity to launch the report here in Bo to underline our commitment to the decentralization programme.

In conclusion, let me reiterate that corruption is a governance issue. It has a crippling effect on national development and undermines the rule of law, weakens public institutions, reinforces socio-economic inequalities and promotes the misallocation of scarce resources. Since corruption has a corrosive effect on accountability, it undermines state responsiveness to its citizens, especially the poor, in the provision of public services. In other words, corruption tends to erode the legitimacy of the state due to the lack of trust and faith which it will cause the people to develop towards their government. The way forward in combating this scourge is for all stakeholders, the government, the public and private sector, civil society, traditional leaders, professional organisations, the youths, etc. to act in unison and say NO TO CORRUPTION.

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