I am very pleased to be here today as we celebrate the first International Anti-Corruption Day and the publishing of the draft National Strategy Plan.

I believe that my Government has made considerable progress in recent years in its attempts to create a system of governance that supports and sustains our development. The challenge therefore that faces our society today is to consolidate the progress that we have made so far and to ensure that the issue of good governance continues to be a priority. I am determined that the beneficiaries of our national drive to good governance will be largely those people in our society who are disadvantaged and poor.

I continue to view corruption as an impediment to the promotion of good governance; it is an evil that cannot be tolerated in our society. Corruption continues to restrict development, retard economic growth and undermine programmes that are designed specifically to benefit the poor. The negative effects of corruption continue to impact mainly on the poor and vulnerable in our society and runs contrary to our poverty reduction strategy goals.

It is for these 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 government's commitment to the promotion of transparency and accountability.

Where systems of accountability and transparency are weak, and where those in public office take scant regard for development-orientated governance, high levels of corruption prevail.

Corruption is an enemy of development and where corruption is not tackled seriously then development efforts will be thwarted. The Anti-corruption Commission is only one player in the process: other institutions must play their part too, and it is about time that evidence of their efforts begins to manifest itself in the public domain.

The Sierra Leone Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper makes it very clear that fighting corruption is a fundamental prerequisite in tackling poverty. It follows therefore that no programme to address the problems associated with poverty will succeed if the evils of corruption are not tackled head on.

I am pleased therefore to note that the theme for the celebration of the Anti-Corruption Day in Sierra Leone is "The Cost of Corruption in Sierra Leone." Corruption has a pervasive impact on the poor that is not always immediately visible or appreciated. So we must understand how corruption directly affects the most needy in our society.

§ The poor will receive a low level of services. When public utilities and benefits are available or distributed according to the ability of the recipient to pay, then obviously the poor will suffer.

§ Infrastructural investment will be biased against projects that aid the poor. Grandiose projects designed to maximize the possibility of bribery, will become a common feature in public procurement contracts and money raised from taxes will be used for this purpose rather than pro-poor investment possibilities.

§ The poor end up facing a higher tax burden or fewer services. If the poor do not have the wherewithal to pay off corrupt officials then they are not likely to get the services they are entitled to expect.

Whilst it is possible for my Government to demonstrate the will to tackle the problem from top, other strategies must exist:

§ Civil society must be actively involved because doing so will help to create an environment where corruption is openly discussed. It pleases me therefore to see that corruption is an issue that is out in the open; this will help change the public opinion for the better.

§ Civil society must also involve professional associations such as the Society of Accountants, Medical and other Associations and I call upon such bodies to play their part in fighting corruption. Civil society should be advocates for reform.

§ The media in particular should continue to play their role albeit in a more professional manner, in the fight against corruption. Media reports bring into the public domain issues of corruption; this is good for the Nation because this helps to provide checks and balances in order to deter over- zealousness by public officers. Corruption thrives in the dark. However, the media should be motivated by sincerity and national interest and not be used simply for personal gains or other non-patriotic considerations.

§ I expect all stakeholders, both public and private, to get involved so that outdated and irrelevant rules, policies and procedures are revised and opportunities for corruption removed. Persons employed in the public sector 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. They must lead from the front.

§ I want to see a continuation of the ongoing structural reforms particularly in the areas of public procurement, the civil service, the Judiciary and financial management in order to eliminate bottlenecks and promote transparency and accountability, and regard for the rule of law. I have often stressed that one area of massive leakages of public funds is in the public procurement process. Fortunately, Parliament has recently enacted the Procurement Bill into law. We will from henceforth strictly put into place and enforce all the new procedures which we have formulated with the help of the World Bank and the UNDP. No government officials, including Ministers will from henceforth be involved in the procurement process other than the designated procurement agency. The activities of the agency will be scrupulously monitored by the Anti Corruption Commission and other law enforcement authorities.

The Commission stands at the forefront of our National Anti-Corruption Strategy. My Government has demonstrated the correct political will and commitment that promotes and supports such a campaign. I believe that this is the only way to progress because it will enable public support at grass root level to see that there are and will be visible possibilities of benefits and will accordingly support the campaign initiatives.

Fighting corruption is not something that can be done in an "ad hoc" or unstructured manner. It is not and cannot be a one-day wonder. There are no quick fixes. It is a continuous process that transcends national boundaries. By signing the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention, a very clear message has been sent out at home and abroad that there is now no hiding place for the corrupt within our society and beyond.

We must all work towards "zero tolerance" to corruption and promote "Corruption Free Zones". These are not mere words but essential concepts that all the people should understand.

The development of a national Anti-Corruption strategy has been a major step in the planning of a comprehensive national programme to mitigate corruption. Since the passing of the Anti Corruption Act in 2000 and the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission, this important policy document has yet to be crafted for implementation. The first step in this direction has now been taken with the presentation of a draft this morning. I am given to understand that the next step will involve nationwide consultation to give people the opportunity to contribute and take ownership of such an invaluable document. It is therefore my sincere wish that when the final version is ready for implementation the collective efforts and inputs from all would continue to provide the driving force that will add a new dimension in the fight against corruption.

Let me end by quoting the following from the 2003 Annual Report of the Commission which states, inter alia, that:

"Over the years much attention has been paid to corruption in the public sector. We must not lose sight of the crucial role also played by the private sector - since corruption in many instances occurs at the intersection of the public and private sectors."

The report also notes that the private sector often instigates corruption even as it becomes a victim of corrupt practices through loss of investment opportunities. In effect corruption is everybody's business and should be fought collectively.

I thank you for your attention.

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