The Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has concluded a two-day sensitisation and capacity-building workshop on Ethics, Integrity and the Anti-Corruption Act for members of the Road Safety Corps. The programme, held as part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to entrench professionalism and accountability, brought together frontline enforcement officers from across the country to deepen their understanding of ethical conduct and to develop practical skills to identify, prevent and respond to corrupt practices.
The Executive Director, Director of Human Resources Hassanatu Judith Mansaray-Bangura expressed appreciation to the ACC for partnering with the SLRSA to provide training in a timely manner. She noted that the personnel of the Road Safety Corps were the public face of the Authority and that the public’s trust in the organisation was directly influenced by their actions and professionalism. Ms Mansaray-Bangura said the workshop was aimed not only at familiarising participants with the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, but equipping them with practical tools and approaches that they can use in their day-to-day operations to maintain integrity and transparency.
Chairman of the SLRSA Board, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Thomas Mustapha Lahai, who addressed the Corps at the event, reminded officers that their presentation and execution of duties have a long-term effect on the public. He encouraged members to live the Authority’s goals, mission and vision through the highest levels of discipline, professionalism and integrity. The Board Chairman stressed the importance of dealing with road users respectfully, directing officers to enforce the law fairly, courteously and respectfully with drivers, commercial motorbike riders, kekeh drivers and pedestrians.
Chairman Lahai also appealed to the officers to exercise strict self-discipline. He advised the officers to dress neatly, do their duties diligently and shun any form of bias, favouritism and corrupt behaviour. Impartial enforcement and respectful treatment of all members of the public are essential to restoring trust in the SLRSA and ensuring effective road safety management, he said.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr Samuel Marah, Deputy Director, Prevention Department, Anti-Corruption Commission. Mr Marah stressed the importance of integrity in public service and the specific obligations of Road Safety Corps officers who work at the state-public interface. He discussed common types of corruption in law enforcement, such as bribery, abuse of office, and conflicts of interest, and the legal consequences for officers involved in such acts.
Mr Marah also addressed the existing processes for reporting suspected corruption and urged participants to use the right channels to report any wrongdoing. He said corruption eats away at the confidence of the people in the institutions, hampers service delivery and stifles national development and reminded the gathering that it is the sworn duty of every public officer to oppose corruption and serve with integrity, transparency and fidelity to the public interest.
The workshop included legal briefings, practical scenarios and discussions to assist officers in spotting vulnerabilities in enforcement actions and implementing preventive measures, the organisers said. Participants were encouraged to apply their learning to their daily work, to be ethical role models to their colleagues and road users, and to contribute to an institutional culture that values transparency and accountability.
The training forms part of SLRSA’s broader commitment under the leadership of Executive Director James Bagie Bio to promote ethical leadership, strengthen institutional accountability, and establish a professional Road Safety Corps that can deliver efficient, transparent and people-centred services. Through regular sensitisation and capacity building the Authority intends to build public trust in order to reduce opportunities for corruption and improve the quality of road safety enforcement throughout Sierra Leone.
