Societies with high levels of corruption, or which lack transparency or effective means to ensure accountability in government are more vulnerable to conflict and disorder. Corruption is manifested in many ways, including greed, bribery, embezzlement, abuse of power (both political and legal), extortion, favoritism, nepotism and self-serving deals by public officials. We acknowledge that some progress has been made in our collective efforts to address corruption, but significant challenges remain. The ultimate goal is to build a culture of accountability and respect for public resources. To support national efforts to address corruption, CARL works with state agencies to ensure accountability and transparency in public financial management, by undertaking research, advocacy and public education for accountability for economic and financial crimes, monitoring corruption-related cases before the courts, and supporting the development of anti-corruption strategies. We also work with communities to raise awareness about corruption and co-create ideas for addressing corruption in the delivery of basic services such as education, health care, agriculture and justice.

Contextual Analysis

The TRC reported that Sierra Leone’s leadership failed over the years to involve the people in governance, public life and civil society. In addition, endemic greed, corruptions and nepotism stripped the country off its dignity and reduced its people to perpetual poverty. No enlightened and visionary leadership emerged to guide the country from degenerating into chaos and civil conflict. The TRC established the nexus between corruption and bad governance. Corruption is manifested in many ways, including greed, bribery, embezzlement, abuse of power (both political and legal), extortion, favoritism, nepotism and self-serving deals by public officials. The Commsission, therefore, recommended the leadership to be very committed; public officials to manifest a new culture of ethics and service, enhance access to information for effective oversight; conduct free, fair, effective and regular elections; Parliament to effect its role of checking the excesses of the executive; institute just administrative action to ensure accountability; abd bring government and service delivery to the people. Corruption adversely impacts the delivery of health, education and other social benefits, and is a contributing factor to the persistence of poverty and other inequalities.

In the post-war period, the country has made tremendous efforts in instituting reforms. At least four post-war elections have been held without radical breakdown in law and order. Several institutions of governance have been established or reformed, including the civil service, the electoral commission and the anti-corruption commission. For example, the Anti-Corruption Act was further amended in 2019, providing effective tools for the fight against corruption, including by extensively widening the scope of corruption-related offences and penalties for violation of the act. Additionally, an Anti-Corruption division of the High Court has been established, which allows for expeditious and credible corruption-related trials. These efforts have been led by the government but with massive support from international actors.

Other institutions of accountability that are critical to achieving better governance outcomes include parliament, the Audit Service Commission, the National Public Procurement Authority, among others. These institutions have undergone reforms since the end of the war, and contributed in some ways in responding to our governance challenges. Unfortunately, significant challenges remain with the Parliament. Apart from limited resources and capacity challenges of the personnel to support the parliament, there have been public concerns about the institution’s lack of commitment to hold the executive to account and loom beyond their partisan allegiance to deliver the public good. CARL will support the ongoing efforts of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the NPPA and the Audit Service Sierra Leone to ensure accountability for public resources. It will also continue to support the efforts of the Public Accounts Committee in parliament to ensure accountability and transparency in public financial management. The role of parliament in making laws as well as providing oversight of public institutions is vital to achieving our development aspirations. To this end, CARL will work with parliament, especially the Public Accounts Committee and the Legislative Committee, to ensure greater accountability and progressive laws and regulations needed to address our economic and development challenges.