By Alex A Bah, Public Relations Assistant, ACC
Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission Sierra Leone (ACC-SL), Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. has highlighted to State Parties of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions (NACIWA) in West Africa, Sierra Leone’s significant strides in domesticating the ECOWAS Protocol on fighting corruption. He did this at NACIWA’s 6th Annual General Meeting held at the ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, from the 18th to 21st August, 2024.
With the event’s theme on; “Implementing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol against corruption towards strengthening Institutions for Regional Unity”, Commissioner’s submission anchored on Sierra Leone’s Implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Corruption 2001, and the remarkable achievements in domesticating it in its national efforts to combat the scourge.
Speaking as a key panelist, Commissioner Kaifala in his well-loaded and sophisticated presentation emphasized the country’s robust legal reforms, institutional strengthening, and unwavering political will as critical elements in Sierra Leone’s ongoing battle against corruption, positioning the nation as a model and regional leader in anti-corruption efforts. “We had the enactment of an amendment to the anti-corruption laws in 2019, and this saw stiff sanctions, additional offences and other key reforms on prevention, investigation and prosecution in line with the guidelines contained in the ECOWAS Protocol”, the Commissioner underscored. He added that the country’s successful implementation of its non-conviction-based recovery model has led to the recovery of millions of dollars stolen, returned to the State.
Commissioner Kaifala who has served as President of NACIWA, whilst sharing his thrilling and fascinating insights, disclosed that, he met the country failing every possible local and international indexes and assessments, but the revolutionary efforts coupled with the strong reforms has made the country rise exponentially in all these data-driven ratings. He informed them that he met the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) rating at 49 failing percent in 2017, but has succeeded in notching a stellar 70 percent and above since his appointment in 2018. He furthered that the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index also validated this with 22 places jump upwards in six consecutive years, and with Afro-Barometer and other similar assessments corroborating it.
He ended by emphasizing the need for prevention, referencing the robust public education, systems review of government agencies and improving assets declaration systems as areas that are key in fighting corruption.
His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in his address on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, endeared ECOWAS member countries to ratify and fully implement the Protocol against Corruption, urging them to move from mere commitment to tangible action. He stated the importance of the harmonization of legal frameworks as well as enhancing cross-border cooperation.
The Rt Hon. Vice President however emphasized that, the region’s future depends on building transparent, accountable, and efficient governance structures that he said should serve the people’s interests. He recognized NACIWA’s crucial role in regional anti-corruption efforts, and therefore announced a notable donation of a property to serve as NACIWA’s permanent headquarters, demonstrating the government’s commitment to strengthening NACIWA’s institutional capacity.
The high-level speakers and participants at the event stressed the need for effective collaboration, sharing of information and good practices among ECOWAS member states in order to effectively combat the menace of corruption which currently inhibits the well-being and economic development of member countries.
Other notable officials at the event includes the Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Senator Udende Emmanuel, ECOWAS Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, NACIWA President who doubles as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukayode, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, together with other Heads of Anti-Corruption agencies in the Region and development partners.
The ECOWAS Protocol on the Fight Against Corruption, adopted in 2001, serves as a foundational document in the fight against corruption within member countries. The protocol outlines the measures that Member States must adopt to prevent, detect, and prosecute corrupt practices and emphasizes the need for harmonized legal frameworks, robust institutional mechanisms, and enhanced cooperation among Member States.
NACIWA, which is based in Abuja, was created at the initiative of ECOWAS in response to the urgent need for coordinated efforts to combat corruption which has a negative impact on governance, economic development and social stability in the region.