The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) concluded its Eastern Region engagement with Paramount Chiefs and traditional authorities at Fillie Faboe Hall, Kono District, in a move to strengthen cooperation between customary leadership and national anti-corruption laws.
Deputy Commissioner Augustine Foday Ngobie explained that the visit was necessary to clarify how traditional practices, such as gifts, intersect with legal obligations like asset declaration. “There are powers the law gives us, but public education builds cooperation and prevents conflict,” he said.
Paramount Chief Abu D. B. Soloko V of Toli Chiefdom welcomed the initiative, noting that the engagement helps traditional leaders understand national laws and avoid unintentional violations. Kono District Council Chairman Augustine Sheku also praised the ACC’s reforms, highlighting the importance of collaboration between government structures and traditional authorities.
ACC Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala emphasized that asset declaration protects both officials and the public, and that the law regulates conflicts of interest rather than gifts. “Transparency, not prohibition, is the cornerstone of the law,” he said.
The engagement included a Q&A session where Paramount Chiefs raised real-life scenarios, reaffirming their commitment to integrity while preserving tradition.
With the Kono meeting, the ACC has completed its Eastern Region tour, reinforcing the message that fighting corruption is a partnership with tradition, not against it.
