Joint Partnership: Accountability Alert Sierra Leone (AASL) and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)

Sierra Leone’s anti-graft agency, The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the country’s Accountability NGO, Accountability Alert Sierra Leone (AASL) have partnered to promote: Citizens Participation through Better Service Delivery in Community Development Projects.

This partnership has led to the first round of 4-workshops conducted jointly by AASL and the ACC in Kambia (June 27, 2011), Zimmi (July 11, 2011), Mattru Jong (July 13, 2011) and Kailahun (July 15, 2011).

The ACC and AASL share the same vision and values, with both organizations longing to see a prosperous and corrupt free Sierra Leone where citizens play a constructive role in development and are able to influence decisions which affect their lives. Although we work in different ways we are seeking to address the same problem – malpractice, and abuse of power and resources in public life.

ACC is seeking to prevent corruption and has the means to investigate and, if need be, prosecute perpetrators of corruption. AASL is focused on the accountability of NGOs/CSOs, who deliver a significant element of national development. It stresses the importance of standards of performance and transparency and openness to beneficiaries.  Both organisations develop skills and mechanisms to enable public scrutiny of community development outcomes.

Both organisations have identified public education as critical to the success of their missions. The way to success is through an informed and responsible citizen who will be the best guardian of moral values and integrity in public services. This is why both organisations are planning to disseminate information and provide guidance and support to organisations and individuals across the country.

There is a useful complementarity between AASL and ACC. AA SL has close links with NGOs, NGOs, CSOs and CBOs which operate in all districts. They mobilize communities and provide direct contact with citizens. AASL can influence NGOs and civil groups and act as a bridge or facilitator between service providers and beneficiaries. But if things went really wrong, AASL has no ‘teeth’ itself to put things right. In this respect ACC brings in extra authority and influence.

ACC needs an informed populace so that they can be part of the fight against corruption. It needs citizens and institutions to help them prevent malpractice from happening. But if it does happen, they need to know about it and they need reliable information in their investigation and judicial process. Because ACC has institutional support, massive authority and excellent reputation it has a great contribution to make in local communities – prepared and skilled in collaboration and mobilized by AASL.