By Ibrahim Siraju Bah
The National Commission for Democracy (NCD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to forge a collaborative engagement and partnership to complement their efforts in promoting their respective interrelated mandates. The signing ceremony took place at the conference room of the ACC at its Headquarters at Gloucester Street in Freetown on November 18, 2014.
In his statement, the Chairman of NCD, Dr. Abubakar H Kargbo (photo) referred to the signing ceremony as a history-making event noting that the MOU is significant as it will ensure that the needed synergy between the two institutions in promoting democratic good governance principles is realized.
He said his Commission is aware of the vices of corruption and the threats they pose to democracy and good governance and emphasized the need for its elimination in order to promote the concept of good governance and democracy.
Kargbo noted that the signing of the MOU will lay the foundation for a collaborative and strategic partnership between the two Commissions adding that the willingness of his Commission to enter into the partnership will serve as a true test of the institution’s commitment towards the elimination of corruption and the promotion of the principles of democratic good governance that will help in enhancing the democratic environment in the country.
He noted that one of the key functions of the ACC that include educating the public about the danger of corruption and the benefist of eradicating corruption is directly related to the mandate of the NCD which is geared towards building a sense of patriotism and other values in the citizens through civic education.
He said the MOU will guide the two Commissions on how to complement each other in the area of educating the public on issues bothering on the nexus between the fight against corruption and the promotion of democratic good governance and patriotism.
Dr. Kargbo congratulated the Commissioner of the ACC for the remarkable progress his Commission has made in recent times through his capable leadership in the fight against corruption and encouraged him to keep up the good work.
He reiterated that the fight against corruption is the responsibility of every citizen and therefore requires serious civic consciousness so that every Sierra Leonean will face the responsibility of making the country a better place for the future generation.
The Commissioner Anti-Corruption Commission Mr. Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara congratulated the Chairman of NCD for the outstanding job his Commission has been doing even at a very difficult time when the country is faced with the Ebola crisis.
He said the partnership between the two Commissions will help them navigate through the woods of difficulties of good governance and see the light at the end of the tunnel and then take the country to becoming a symbol of hope and the references to Sierra Leone will not be those of stigma or those that will bring tears to the eyes of the people of Sierra Leone but references of respect, honour and integrity.
He applauded the partnership between the two Commissions saying that the two Commissions are like twins that were separated by circumstance of fate but noted that the two have discovered one another and share the common goal of promoting transparency and accountability.
He urged the two Commissions to continue to preach transparency and accountability saying that transparency is always beautiful when one has nothing to hide noting that they should never shirk their responsibilities
He noted that there is a gap in the country’s democracy as institutions work as stand alone institutions and expressed the need for institutions to come together and collaborate in the interest of development like the two Commissions have done.
ACC Commissioner Joseph Kamara
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