By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of the company’s efforts in the fight against graft, ensuring transparency in its operations at the Freetown Terminal, Bolloré Transport & Logistics on Thursday 9th December 2021 joined other organizations to commemorate this year’s International Anti-Corruption (IAC) Day during a well-attended ceremony held at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay at Cline Town in Freetown.
Giving the opening statement, the Bolloré Compliance Officer, Madam Olusola Sesay noted that the International Anti-corruption Day marks the adoption in 2003 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
She said that the company’s members of staff work under a comprehensive code of conduct, and allows whistleblowers to report suspected integrity violations to the Management of the company.
Madam Sesay admonished the company’s members of staff to work hard and ensure that their operations are corruption free as provided for in their human resources and training programs for staff. She said the company is proud of its accomplishments and commended all staff members for their vigilance and dedication in the fight against corruption, ensuring that the operations of the company are upheld.
Speaking during the event, the Country Manager of Bolloré, Captain Fabjanko Kokan, revealed that there is total transparency in the operations of Bolloré as payments for transactions are being done through banks of which he assured all that they will continue in that drive.
He implored all of the company’s staff to continue in enhancing transparency and accountability in the operations of the company and further urged them to obey the rules and improve on their integrity and change the way they do things.
“We cannot allow corruption here, we are paid to do our work diligently and you should avoid any form of corruption with the operations of the company,” he maintained.
Captain Fabjanko Kokan pointed out that the fight against corruption in the country is a collaborative effort of which he said together we need to fight, otherwise, we will fail in the fight against corruption.
He concluded by commending the Anti-Corruption Commission for its efforts in the fight against graft in the country but said the fight to eradicate it still needs to improve.
Giving the keynote address, the Deputy Director of Public Education and Outreach at the Anti-Corruption Commission, Abubakarr Turay commended Bolloré for its belief that the fight against corruption is not solely the business of the Government and the Anti-Corruption Commission and called on institutions and other private sector players to join the robust fight against corruption in Sierra Leone.
“We know that the quay has many other stakeholders and we also know that Bolloré has built a very good image for itself over the years. But when you operate in an environment like this, there is the tendency for people to describe you all as ‘Just One and the same people’ I therefore encourage you to always be bringing these issues up during stakeholders engagements,” he admonished.
Abubakarr Turay acknowledged the decision of Bolloré Transport and Logistics to recognize the International Anti-Corruption Day, which he said has now become part of their annual calendar, adding that this goes a long way to show the public and their staff about the organization’s stance against corruption. He further urged other private and even public institutions to emulate the footprints of Bolloré.
He also commended the company for creating an Integrity Management Committee to serve as a mini anti-corruption body to identify system weaknesses and corruption incidences in the workplace, as an ACC preventive approach in the fight against corruption.
