Hon. AKK Reveals Political Bias in Sierra Leone Anti-Corruption Fight
By Benjamin S Conteh
In a revealing and candid interview on AYV this past Sunday, Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara (popularly known as Hon. AKK), Opposition Whip in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Kambia District, delivered a scathing indictment of Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and civil society organisations (CSOs). He accused these key institutions of political bias, institutional weakness, and failure to confront the rampant corruption crippling the country.
Hon. AKK’s remarks come on the heels of the latest Afrobarometer Report, which showed a 14 percent decline in public confidence regarding the government’s anti-corruption efforts. However, he argued that this statistic barely scratches the surface of the actual crisis. “The figure is a gross understatement and a deliberate misrepresentation,” he asserted. “The lived experience of the average Sierra Leonean who witnesses corruption daily paints a far bleaker picture. I believe over 90% of citizens feel corruption is worsening, not improving.”
He lambasted the ACC for transforming from an independent watchdog into what he described as “a political tool and errand boy for the presidency.” Reflecting on the initial phase under ACC Commissioner Ben Kaifala, Hon. AKK noted how investigations and arrests particularly of opposition figures were swift and visible. Yet, he lamented the stark contrast today, where glaring corruption scandals involving senior officials remain unaddressed. “The 2025 Performance Audit Report highlighted that all agricultural machinery procured since 2018 are faulty,” he said. “Despite this, no one has been held accountable. Many ministers from that period are now flaunting their wealth, constructing lavish hotels across the country.”
Hon. AKK also questioned the ACC’s inaction in several high-profile cases, including the Parliament payroll scandal involving the wife of Clerk Paran Tarawally, and the ongoing corruption surrounding the Chancery Building in New York. “The ACC claims it is waiting on presidential approval to prosecute Paran. This is unconstitutional,” he emphasized, reminding viewers that the 2018 Anti-Corruption Act grants the ACC full prosecutorial authority without presidential interference.
His critique extended to civil society organisations, which he accused of being compromised and co-opted by the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). “From 2018 to now, I have yet to see a single civil society report that does not serve as a cover-up or PR for the government,” Hon. AKK claimed. “Many civil society leaders who once vocally criticized the previous administration have now become de facto SLPP mouthpieces.” He cited a revealing admission from a prominent civil society figure who openly campaigned for President Bio during the 2018 elections, raising serious questions about the independence and neutrality of these groups.
In a rare moment of self-reflection, Hon. AKK acknowledged Parliament’s own shortcomings in fulfilling its oversight role. “As a member of the Public Accounts Committee, I must take responsibility,” he stated. “We have not sufficiently scrutinized the Office of the President, especially concerning allegations of fake receipts and questionable vehicle procurement for Paramount Chiefs.” He revealed troubling details about government funds routed through a Liberian bank account to purchase vehicles that never reached Sierra Leone, approved under a letter from the Office of the President. “These irregularities demand urgent ACC investigation,” he insisted.
Hon. AKK further exposed ethnic and regional disparities in the ACC’s enforcement patterns, alleging that prosecutions disproportionately target individuals from the north and west of the country, while those from the southeast enjoy protection. “This selective targeting politicizes the ACC and undermines its credibility,” he argued.
Highlighting what he called “double standards,” he contrasted the ACC’s rapid summons of the Freetown Mayor over audit allegations with its silence on more serious accusations involving top government officials.
Concluding his remarks, Hon. AKK issued a heartfelt call for the restoration of independent institutions and the strengthening of democratic governance in Sierra Leone. “Civil society must reclaim its role as a fearless watchdog, not a mouthpiece for those in power,” he urged. “For democracy to flourish, institutions must speak truth to power without fear or favor.”
He appealed for the ACC to move beyond passive reliance on audit reports and instead undertake proactive, independent investigations whenever corruption red flags arise. He also encouraged the public to remain vigilant and engaged. “Corruption is more than stolen money,” he warned. “It destroys systems, weakens institutions, and erodes public trust. It is a cancer that, if unchecked, threatens the very foundation of our nation.”
