Home Page > NACS - ACC and Youths Launch Anti-Corruption Colour Code

ACC AND YOUTHS LAUNCH
ANTI-CORRUPTION COLOUR CODE

In what was described as an extension of investing in youths to ‘fight corruption, the Anti-Corruption Commission in concert with the Centre for Coordination of Youth Activities celebrated the international Youth Day at the Port Loko Teachers’ College.

The function was based at the theme, LETS IT HAPPEN: MAKE CORRUPTION HISTORY! The function was climaxed by the launch of special blue ribbon as the new insignia of action word for crusaders in the fight against corruption. Participants were drawn from all over Sierra Leone for the three day brainstorming session around the National Anti-Corruption Strategy. In addition special note book of relevance to crusade was also provided for the new crop of youth integrity disciples. Anti-Corruption Commissioner Valentine Collier whilst displaying the special blue ribbon and notebook to the youth participants, noted that the essence of the occasion was to discuss the politics of the country not the politics of political parties. He described the event as challenging to the youths whom he said had always been used as foot soldiers in politics, provided with plates of rice and a tie of ‘jamba for violence….’ He said once upon a time this country was thriving as can be seen in war ruined towns, where severed electricity lines are dangling with loose abandon and half tarmacs on the roads….The Anti-Corruption Commissioner threw in a teaser to the youths saying:”

‘You consider 65 percent the population of the country what sort of empowerment do you need?’ He said in tackling any problem the diagnoses need to be done first and foremost. He pointed out that diagnosing the problem of corruption was part of the object of the three day engagement with youths of Sierra Leone, to find a way out of the conditions which have made the riches of the country being siphoned abroad, and the bulk of the majority of the citizenry are rendered hapless. Collier lamented the consistent lagging of the country saying, ‘it is painful that in the ongoing Olympics Sierra Leone cannot even field representatives before I say to win medals.‘ Adding: ‘after forty years of tomfoolery we still have one stadium to show.‘

Collier asked: ‘so what have young people to look forward to?‘ He volunteered an answer, ‘it must therefore be something of new beginning. He implored the youths to show a sense of honesty and commitment in whatever they do for the improvement of Sierra Leone.

Earlier the Chairman of the occasion Civil Activist Massie Bah stressed the point that it is only collective effort that can help tackle corruption. He said the event was timely and lauded the organizers for coming to the realization that young and energetic youths are most valuable in the fight to check the growing incidences of corruption. Massie Bah argued that for Sierra Leone to up its human development rating corruption must be drastically reduced. He encouraged the youths to be multipliers of the issues learnt during the three day forum when they returned to their respective localities.

DFID’s Graham Bashford said the issue of corruption is evident all over the world, noting that it is only the level and reporting of the phenomenon that varies from country to country. He said is worth remembering that although corruption is widely reported in the public sector, ‘it exists just as much in the private sector.‘ Graham Bashford said it was his hope that the workshop will ‘help to inform young members of society – how you can help make this country become a better place to live and to improve the quality of life of its citizens.‘ Graham Bashford said that he has been to Sierra Leone five to six times and that there are quite some improvements…

Charles Lahai of the Forum for Youth Serving Agencies, among other things, reminded the gathering about a resolution they had in Makeni last, which inter alia, threw a challenge to youths of Sierra Leone, as to their role in the fight against corruption. He said it is pleasing to note that Commissioner Collier who witnessed that Makeni meeting has delivered on his promise to bring onboard youths in the fight against corruption. Charles Lahai used the occasion to appeal to all organizations ‘to mainstream corruption messages in all programmes and interventions nationwide. ‘He said as young people, it was high time they put on human rights tenses to fight corruption from that angle. ‘We want also use this occasion to overturn the notion that youths are future leaders to the notion that youths are leaders of today. And therefore we need to take leadership roles and see how much we can contribute to national development by being proactive in the fight against corruption,‘ Charles Lahai said.

Section Chief of Maforki Chiefdom in the Port Loko District Pa. Santigie Bangura dwelt on forms and causes of corruption citing and building local scenarios of greed, poverty, abuse of power and fiscal fraud. He said no foreign antidote can be obtained to core corruption except with commitment at all levels.

Formally launching the occasion was the Port Loko District Chairman J.B. Amara. He registered his delight for the convening of the programme. He described the move to bring young people together for the expressed objective saying it is a ‘move in the right direction.‘ He argued that it is only the young people who can help to minimize corruption. He said young people belong to the vulnerable category, and ought to see the threat that corruption poses to them. He called on the youths to be vigilant and honest to utilize well the privilege offered by the conference.

Perhaps a high point of the conference was the interactive session with ACCs National Anti-Corruption Strategy Implementation Officer Nabilahi Musa Kamara. Delivering Papers on Civil Society Organization as actors in the fight against corruption were journalist David Tam Bayoh and Head of CCYA Abdul Bum Wai Tam Bayoh said the ACC being no magician, cannot get much cooperation from offices they probe. ‘They therefore have to rely on the press for most of the lead of corruption incidences…. ‘Tam Bayoh said that it is sad that we are still groveling in a banana leaf syndrome-stretching hand for aid whilst the respect for politicians continues to erode. Abdul Bum Wai said the civil society and the media are valuable instruments in the fight against corruption that need more support to have the requisite skills to take on corruption and issues of conflict of interests. Abdul Bum Wai insisted that corruption begets poverty and not the other way round.

Outside the halls of the Port Loko Teachers College the activities of the youths was felt across the street. This happened before the youths departed for their various regions. They embarked on a procession, carrying placards with anti-corruption letterings, and a fluent themene youth hailer got all Port Loko able-bodied men and women coming out to see ‘Salone youths running against corruption,‘ an initiative of CCYAs Ngollo Katta.