By Ibrahim Sesay
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has announced the indictment of Issa Kamara, Chief Examiner of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and Ibrahim Kamara, Assistant Examiner, on multiple counts of corruption-related offences. This was disclosed in a Press Release issued by the Commission on Tuesday April 9, 2025.
According to the ACC, both individuals face serious charges stemming from their alleged involvement in manipulating examination procedures to confer unfair advantage to a candidate in the 2024 May/June West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Issa Kamara, a resident of No. 82 Hanga Road, Jui and Ibrahim Kamara, of No. 15 Kissy Brook, Off Akram Junction, are jointly indicted on five counts each. These include:
- One count of Abuse of Office, contrary to Section 42(1)
- One count of Abuse of Position, contrary to Section 43
- One count of Using Office for Advantage, contrary to Section 44(1)
- One count of Conspiracy to Commit a Corruption Offence, contrary to Section 128(1)
- One count of Academic Malpractice, contrary to Section 128(3)
In addition, Issa Kamara faces a sixth count for Influencing a Public Officer, contrary to Section 30 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12 of 2008, as amended in 2019.
The ACC revealed that the two officials are accused of using their official positions to provide undue assistance to Foday Fasuluku Mansaray, a candidate in the 2024 WASSCE. It is alleged that Issa Kamara improperly accessed the candidate’s examination script, belonging to his nephew and handed it over to Ibrahim Kamara, who answered a portion of the questions before the script was returned and mixed in with others for official marking.
That act, the Commission noted, constitutes a grave breach of trust and academic integrity, undermining the credibility of national examinations and the education system as a whole.
The ACC emphasized its continued resolve to fight all forms of corruption, particularly those that compromise the future of Sierra Leonean students through examination malpractice.
“The Commission remains steadfast in its mission to tackle academic fraud and corruption at all levels,” the statement concluded.
The accused persons are expected to make their first court appearance in the coming days.
