By Amin Kef Sesay
On 16th September, 2020 the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at its Conference Gall on 3 Gloucester Street, Freetown.
The objective of the MOU is to provide monitoring in the successful implementation of the Sierra Leone Skills Development Project (SLSD).
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Commissioner, ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie, expressed delight on the request of the Ministry to partner with the Commission in the fight against corruption. He stated that the Ministry had requested the intervention of the Commission, to investigate corruption allegation relating to contracts awarded for the construction of Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET) buildings and that the MoU will serve as a preventive rather than reactive approach to the fight against corruption. He further stated that, the primary focus had been on acquiring higher qualifications to acquire job, thereby ignoring the middle level manpower.
Mr. Ngobie assured the Ministry that the Commission will not in any way micro-manage the process, but will rather consistently monitor the resources provided by development partners are maximize same for the intended purpose. He furthered that the Grievance Redress Mechanism aspect of the project has two primary focus, that looks and evaluates complaints received and ascertain whether they are handled administratively or by the Commission once the evidence is available.
In his statement, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Gilbert Cooper expressed his profound thanks to the Commission for the partnership. He underscored that the Ministry has its own internal monitoring and evaluation system in the implementation of this project, and that there are three layers to it, and the Commission will lead on one.
The signing was chaired by Patrick Sandi, Director, Public Education and External Outreach ACC.
