As part of its mandate to curb corrupt practices and the enforcement of government policies, the North-West Regional office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently monitoring the refund of monies collected by Principals of Secondary Schools to register candidates for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, instructed principals to refund monies collected from students for WAEC scratch cards for registration for the WASSCE exam.

At the moment, some have complied while others are in the process of effecting payment. A team of ACC, on Wednesday 6th November, monitored the refund process at the Schlenker Secondary School and other schools in Port Loko. Receiving their refunds, the students of various secondary schools expressed appreciation to the Commission. The ACC Regional Manager, Al-Hassan Sesay said, he will take steps necessary to stamp out corrupt practices in the region. The monitoring exercise will replicate across all senior secondary schools in the region.

At the Extraordinary General Assembly convened by the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) of the Network of National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA) held in Lome-Togo from the 5th-6th November 2019, the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. has been unanimously endorsed to serve as the new President and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Network comprising 15 West African Countries

Charged with this responsibility, Commissioner Kaifala happens to be the youngest Commissioner on the Continent, will be the President of the regional Association and Chairman of the Executive Committee.

He will be the principal representative of the Association in ECOWAS and other Global bodies. Lead in the attainment of the objectives of the Association as mandated by ECOWAS. Work closely with the Permanent Secretariat of the Network in Dakar, Senegal, and preside over all Executive Committee Meetings and General Meetings for the next year.

The 15 Member Association established by ECOWAS Resolution to ensuring transparency and accountability in West Africa. It brings Heads of National Anti-Corruption institutions together that have the mandate to fight corruption in their respective West African Countries.