Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is all set to invoke administrative sanctions against Public Officers who had failed to declare their assets income and liabilities for the 2022/2023 declaration year.

According to the recent press release from ACC, withholding of salaries of public officers is part of the administrative sanction to officers, who failed to meet the slated deadline of Thursday 26th October, 2023 to declare their assets.

The Deputy ACC Commissioner, Augustine Ngobie in the just concluded FY2024 Budget hearings at the Ministry of Finance said that the expected numbers of public officers to declare their assets are 10,376 but the actual number of officers that declared was 9,961.

He said Assets Declaration Regime was amended in December 2019 and that make provision for public officers of grade 7 and above and those below grade 7 but with fiduciary responsibilities to declare their Assets after every two years.

The Deputy ACC Boss further reminded the committee that the commission was established in the year 2000 as an independent institution to lead in the fight against and control of corruption through prevention, investigation, prosecution and public education. He said the Commission is working in partnership with other bodies to build a corrupt free Sierra Leone through empowerment, enforcement and compliance with the rule of law.

ACC Deputy Commissioner assured of attaining the vision of the Commission “ A corruption free Sierra Leone which ensure that the socio-economic needs of its citizens are met” through prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of corruption and corrupt practices.

Mr. Ngobie spoke about some of the high profile cases successfully investigated in 2023 including the Audit Report investigation which led to the recovery of billions of Leones and misappropriation of public funds of Le600, 000 paid by management of Sierra Leone Maritime administration to purported staff for services he did not do.

He further highlighted summary of planned activities and key deliverables for 2024 includes: implementation of systems review recommendations in at least three MDAs, Anti-Corruption policy in at least three MDAs, review and develop service charter for five MDAs and among others.