PRESIDENT LAUNCHES NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000235 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM SL SUBJECT: PRESIDENT LAUNCHES NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY REF: FREETOWN 153 ¶1. SUMMARY: President Earnest Bai Koroma officially launched the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) on May 19, 2008. This strategy represents a comprehensive approach to combating corruption and includes: objectives and activities for government ministries beyond the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC); the outline of a National Integrity System; and plans for continued partnership between the state, civil society, and the private sector. The NACS represents the overarching anti-corruption framework for the country that will be supported by a restructured and revitalized ACC. Key points were: June expected passage of the revised Anti-Corruption law; division of Attorney General and Minister of Justice into two non-conflicting positions (now combined); and President Koroma's planned public declaration of his assets. END SUMMARY. ¶2. President Koroma's comments regarding the NACS reflected his commitment to maintaining zero-tolerance on corruption, a pledge he made during his election campaign and repeated during his October 2007 address to the opening of Parliament. He stated that no one, regardless of stature or position, will be exempt from prosecution. He added that the revision of the anti-corruption law (see reftel),which was recently approved by the Attorney-General and other members of his Cabinet, will be tabled before Parliament within the next two weeks. The revised law will provide the ACC with prosecutorial authority. Following anticipated Parliamentary approval for the revised law, the President intends to publicly declare his personal assets in the hopes of encouraging transparency among others within the government. Koroma also said that he intends to separate the offices of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, and that action is already being taken to make this a reality. ¶3. The creation of this strategy fulfills one of the criteria for International Monetary Fund (IMF) support, which up until now had been suspended. At the May 19 roll-out ceremony, the IMF representative told Ambassador that the launch enables the IMF to restart programs, and he commented that he expects a team of experts to arrive in June. ¶4. COMMENT: Detailed impressions of the NACS and related documents will be discussed septel, but its launch and President Koroma's accompanying remarks represent a major step towards strengthening Sierra Leone's ability to combat corruption. The revision of the anti-corruption law and the revitalization of the ACC through the selection of a credible and active Commissioner are critical steps in legitimizing the government's commitment to addressing this endemic problem. A national strategy that forces all government ministries and parastatals to include anti-corruption in their mandates is a bold and visible initiative. This strategy addresses not only accountability, but also embeds the concept that corruption is a government-wide problem that requires a government-wide solution. The well-attended and very public May 19 launch was a necessary step to demonstrating to the people of Sierra Leone and the international community that corruption will no longer be tolerated in the country. END COMMENT. PERRY