SLRTA CONNECTS WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

The Northern Region Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission has on Thursday 31st July 2014 directed its sustained public education drive to core staff and Traffic Wardens of the Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority (SLRTA) in Makeni.

Explaining the purpose of the meeting, ACC Public Education Officer Augustine Foday Ngobie, described the engagement as a deliberate strategy to heighten public awareness on anti-corruption. Ngobie emphasized that the meeting was intended to inform them of those forbidden practices embedded in the 2008 AC Act and the penalty involved.  He noted that as an institution charged with the responsibility to execute their duties through education, enforcement and engineering, they share a common role with the ACC in the area of educating the public.  The Public Educator encouraged his audience to work within the confines of the law in order not to face the wrath of ACC. He implored them to desist from corrupt practice as the anti-corruption laws prescribed stiffer penalties.

Speaking on key corruption issues and the role of SLRTA in the fight against corruption, ACC's Regional Manager North, Ibrahim Ahmad Kargbo lauded staff and Wardens of the institution for their relentless effort to curtail recklessness and lawlessness amongst drivers and riders. Manager Kargbo stated that as a revenue generation institution, funds collected from defaulters must not be diverted for personal use. He emphasized that the Commission's microscope is now directed on revenue generation institutions to ensure that their operation is devoid of corruption.  Manager Kargbo went further to highlight the system weaknesses at SLRTA such as: weak supervision and enforcement of land transportation safety standards; diversion of valuable resources by Traffic Wardens  in connivance with bank officers; blatant disregard for provisions of the SLRTA Act as amended; poorly kept public facility; failure to combat in house corruption; lack of enforcement of ethical conduct and ethical training; outdated regulation resulting in lack of transparency and accountability.

Manager Kargbo acknowledged that though some recommendations to overcome the identified system weaknesses at SLRTA are “quick wins”, others, he acknowledged, are not within the purview of the Regional Office but for the attention of SLRTA Head Office. He catalogued the role they should play in the fight against corruption; “to undertake daily monitoring of the process of the issuing of tickets and licenses or permits and all services provided by the Authority; daily monitoring of compliance with the Act by Traffic Wardens and SLRTA staff; reviewing procedures to make them more transparent and accountable; practicing a fair and open recruitment and promotion system; introduce staff training on ethics and corruption prevention; set up internal integrity monitoring units; enhance and promulgate a public and internal confidential complaint channel with complaint hotlines;  prompt referral of cases to the ACC relating to Anti-corruption and to cooperate fully with ACC investigations”

Investigations Officer, Ishmael Sheriff explained some of the offences that are likely to be committed by staff of the Authority such as: misappropriation of public funds/property, misappropriation of donor funds/ property, possession of unexplained wealth, offering, soliciting and accepting an advantage, gift, abuse of office, abuse of position and conflict of interest. Sheriff stated that the penalty for the aforementioned offences is a fine not less than thirty million Leones or to imprisonment for a term not less than three years or to both fine and imprisonment.      

Senior Public Education Officer North, Al-Hassan Sesay dilated on the benefits and importance of reporting corrupt practices to the ACC, how to report and protection of whistle blower. Sesay cautioned against making false/malicious reports, as it constitutes an offence. He read out the mobile hotline numbers and that of the Regional Manager North. Sesay informed them of the 10% reward that will be given to anyone who provide the ACC with cogent information that leads to successful conviction and recovery. The Senior Public Education Officer implored them to reject, resist and report cases of corruption that they may encounter during the course of their work.