AGL Fast-Tracks Supplier Code of Conduct and Zero Tolerance for Corruption

Freetown, Sierra Leone – Africa Global Logistics (AGL) Sierra Leone used the Africa Anti-Corruption Day to reaffirm its commitment to ethical business practices and beef up its supply chain standards through a day-long programme that brought together regulators, suppliers and sector stakeholders to boost transparency and accountability.

The event was held at the New Brookfields Hotel in New England on Friday, July 17, 2026 and was graced by the presence of senior AGL management, representatives from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), shipping agents, clearing and forwarding firms, transport operators and other industry players. Entitled “Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Across Africa,” the event featured keynote speeches, technical presentations and interactive sessions to tackle corruption risk in procurement and logistics operations.

The keynote address was delivered by Samuel Marah of the ACC, who underscored that procurement remains one of the most corrupt areas in the public and private sector due to the discretion that is used in decision-making. Marah said that even with strong legal and policy frameworks, compliance alone is not enough and called on businesses and partners to adopt integrity as a fundamental business principle. He framed ethical behaviour as a strategic asset that drives sustainability, profitability, and effective resource management.

Marah told participants that they should not see supply chain integrity as a compliance box to tick but as a critical element of long-term business success. He called for joint ownership of AGL, its vendors and other service providers and said the forum was about open discussion, not finger-pointing.

AGL’s Legal and Compliance Manager, Nontali Sia Kamara, Esq., explained the company’s compliance architecture and highlighted the corporate Code of Conduct as a major safeguard. All levels of the organisation and third-party partners are covered by AGL’s compliance regime, Kamara said. AGL is part of a global company based in France that is subject to several regulatory frameworks including the Sapin II anti-corruption law, Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Act and internal standards, she said.

There are measures in place, such as regular training and awareness campaigns, and a whistleblower mechanism in place for reporting and investigating misconduct allegations, Kamara said. “AGL is committed to removing corrupt practices from its systems and expects its suppliers to adhere to the company’s zero-tolerance approach,” she said.

A major new initiative announced by AGL Freetown Terminal General Manager Maroun Abi-Aad is the creation of a dedicated Supplier Code of Conduct, which will formalise expectations for transparency and accountability in procurement and supply chain activities. “The Code provides a common framework that clarifies the responsibilities of AGL and its business partners and underscores that ethical behaviour is required to continue to work with the terminal,” Abi-Aad said.

On the application of the Supplier Code of Conduct, Abi-Aad said he was happy with the cooperation level from the suppliers at this first stage. He said many suppliers had already complied with documentation requirements and followed business procedures set out by the company. “Compliance with the Code will be an important factor in doing business with AGL,” Abi-Aad said. He hoped the discussion started at the event would encourage suppliers to ask questions and keep the lines of communication open when problems arise.
The programme included some technical presentations on corporate compliance, ethical procurement, supply chain integrity and best practices in anti-corruption. Presenters talked about how procurement processes can be made more robust against corruption risks and the practical responsibilities of suppliers in keeping transparent business relations.

A practical interactive session on the themes of the day with case-study discussions and sharing of experiences. Participants worked through real-world compliance scenarios, examining tangible ways to prevent and address misconduct in logistics operations. The exchanges allowed suppliers and service providers to raise specific challenges and to discuss operational measures to reduce vulnerabilities in the bidding, contracting and execution phases.

In closing remarks, Sylvia G. Jarrett thanked the ACC, AGL management, suppliers, facilitators and others who helped make the event possible. Jarrett called on stakeholders to move from discussions to action, and to make integrity commitments operational within their own organisations and across the sector.
By bringing regulators and private sector partners together around a practical agenda and introducing a Supplier Code of Conduct, AGL Sierra Leone demonstrated its commitment to moving from rhetoric to enforceable standards. The company’s approach to legal compliance, training, reporting channels and more stringent contractual expectations for suppliers is designed to reduce the risk of corruption but also to bolster the trust and efficiency that underpin contemporary supply chains.
It was part of a broader drive across AGL’s African operations to institutionalise anti-corruption measures and create a culture across the industry of rewarding transparent behaviour and dealing swiftly with misconduct, the organisers said. The session ended with stakeholders having specific commitments to put the discussed ideas into practice and to continue the dialogue, with further engagements planned as the Supplier Code of Conduct is rolled out across all procurement activity.