๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐. ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐๐ฒ
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has called on young Sierra Leoneans to make integrity a way of life and develop the courage to speak out against corruption, stressing that the fight against corruption must begin with individuals and be nurtured from an early age.
The call was made during a Peace, Integrity and Leadership Training organised under the initiative, โCatch Them Young: Combating Corruption Through Educational Debates and Peace & Integrity Training.โ
The programme, a social change initiative of Rotary Peace Fellow Alex A. Bah, brought together Senior Secondary School pupils from seven schools in the Western Area at the Conference Room of the ACCโs Integrity House in Tower Hill, Freetown.
Speaking at the event, Patrick Sandi, Coordinator of Operations at the ACC, described the initiative as an important complement to the Commissionโs mandate to prevent and combat corruption in Sierra Leone.
Sandi highlighted the strong connection between peace, integrity and the fight against corruption, noting that societies cannot make meaningful progress when trust between citizens and those in authority is weakened.
โWhen there is loss of trust between the governed and the governors, society doesnโt thrive,โ Sandi said, adding that combating corruption should also be viewed as an extension of peacebuilding.
He challenged the young participants, who were later inducted as Peace and Integrity Ambassadors, to remain courageous, resilient and vigilant in promoting integrity and speaking out against corrupt practices, regardless of the status or influence of those involved.
The ACCโs message was further reinforced by Sylvanus Blake, Deputy Director of Public Education and Outreach at the Commission, during a session on โIntegrity, Accountability and Young Citizens: Understanding Corruption and Our Role in Preventing It.โ
Blake explained corruption as the misuse of public office for private gain but cautioned the pupils against viewing corruption as a problem committed only by public officials.
He emphasised that accountability begins with individuals and encouraged the young people to demonstrate integrity in their daily lives while developing the confidence to reject and report corrupt practices.
The training also examined the role of young people in maintaining peace and preventing conflict. Titus Mohamed Kallon, Acting Director of Conflict Prevention at the Independent Commission for Peacebuilding and National Cohesion, facilitated a session titled โPeace Begins With Us: Young People, Conflict Prevention and Social Cohesion.โ
Kallon encouraged the pupils to embrace active listening, respectful communication and dialogue as practical tools for preventing conflict and strengthening social cohesion.
Delivering the keynote address on โIntegrity in Action: Building Ethical Leaders for Sierra Leoneโs Future,โ Mark Ivan Kapindy Vandy, Head of Media and Public Relations at the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority and the initiativeโs Integrity Champion Partner, challenged participants to make ethical conduct part of their everyday decision-making.
Vandy reminded the young people that public resources belong to the public and should never be treated as personal property. He urged them to develop leadership values that would guide them in their future roles in society.
The programme also featured a session on โYoung People, Leadership and Peacebuilding: Becoming Agents of Positive Change,โ facilitated by Ansumana Keita, Executive Director of the Patriotic Advocacy Network.
Participants received practical training in โThe Art of Debate: Critical Thinking, Evidence, Persuasion and Respectful Disagreement,โ facilitated by Bah. The session equipped them with skills to engage constructively on issues affecting their communities.
The ACCโs support for the programme underscores the Commissionโs continued emphasis on early values formation, public education and youth engagement as essential tools for building a culture of integrity and strengthening Sierra Leoneโs long-term fight against corruption.
