On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, Augustine Foday Ngobie, Deputy Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), hosted David Robinson, Senior Counsel from the Legal Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to Mr. Robinson, the visit serves as a precursor to an upcoming meeting in May 2025. It aims to assess governance practices and corruption vulnerabilities within government institutions, identify areas for improvement, and provide tailored recommendations to enhance Sierra Leone’s governance framework.
In February 2025, the IMF will send questionnaires to the ACC to help identify its needs and challenges. These findings will later be discussed with the government to further strengthen the ACC. Robinson emphasized that the Commission could provide as much relevant information as it deemed necessary, beyond the scope of the questionnaires if required. He commended the ACC’s progress despite the challenges it faces.
The visit is part of a Governance Diagnostic Scoping Mission from the IMF, which aligns with the Government of Sierra Leone’s assessment for a new Extended Credit Facility (ECF) program.
Deputy Commissioner Ngobie, representing Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala, welcomed Mr. Robinson and assured him of the Commission’s continued support and collaboration with the IMF. He noted the government’s support for the ACC, particularly in constructing and furnishing the Integrity House, the Commission’s headquarters. Ngobie credited the Presidential endorsement and operational independence as key factors behind the ACC’s success in national and international corruption perception indexes.
Ngobie also highlighted the Commission’s need for a new fleet, as its current aging vehicles hinder its effectiveness. He emphasized that, despite this challenge, the ACC has achieved significant successes and expressed optimism about the potential for even greater impact with improved resources. Ngobie reaffirmed the ACC’s readiness to support IMF initiatives aimed at enhancing anti-corruption efforts in Sierra Leone.
Contributions to the dialogue were made by ACC Directors of Prevention, Operations, and Public Education and Outreach: Rashid B. Turay, Emmanuel K. Amara, and Patrick Sandi, respectively.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of pleasantries.
