By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Anti-Corruption Commission has extended the deadline for all categories of public officials that are required by law to declare their assets from March 31st 2020 to May 31st 2020.
The 2019 amended ACC Act states that pursuant to Section 119(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 (as Amended in 2019) all public officers who are to declare their assets and have failed to do so are now in default.
Section 119(1) of the Act states that every public officer shall, within three months of becoming a public officer, deposit with the Commission a declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and thereafter in every two years that he is public officer, but not later than 31st March of that second year, deposit further declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and also while leaving office.
Furthermore, Section 122A(1) of the said Amendment provides that a public officer who, without reasonable cause, fails to submit his/her Assets Declaration Form or knowingly records false, inaccurate or misleading information in the declaration form shall, in addition to any other penalty imposed under this Act, be liable to administrative sanctions that could be withholding the salary of the Public Officer, suspension after one month of default but not more than three months; and dismissal after exceeding three months.
It is against this background, that the Commission informs public officers that the deadline for the submission of Asset Declaration Forms, which was 31st March, 2020 has now elapsed but extended to, on or before the 31st May 2020.
Beyond the said date, the ACC Commissioner said that defaults will be treated as deliberate and defaulters will face the applicable appropriate penalties as prescribed by law above, adding that anyone who has specific challenges should promptly notify the Commission for speedy remedy.
Asset declaration is intended to instil integrity and accountability in public life in the commission’s fight against corruption.
