The main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) political parties have been reacting to the recent arrest of a top civil servant Mr. Bockarie Foh, permanent secretary at Ministry of Social Welfare who was caught attempting to steal $3,000 meant for religious Muslim Hajj affairs. For the SLPP, the entire government was corrupt whilst for the APC, they consider themselves as having strengthened the fight against corruption.

Chairman and Leader of SLPP, Chief Somano Kapen, told Awareness Times that “the issue of corruption in Ministries, Departments and Agencies has been institutionalised".

Chief Kapen further said “the APC led government lacks mechanisms to adequately address corrupt practices in state owned institutions.” He therefore implored the Anti Corruption Commission to be more vigilant in the fight against corruption.

However, Presidential Spokesman, Abdulai Bayraytay, whilst on a phone call interview with Awareness Times debunks the position of the opposition. He said the presidency of Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has made tremendous progress in the fight against corruption. He cited “ranging from giving the ACC the prosecutorial power in 2008, the President has also ensured that the ACC is devoid from the control of the Executive arm of government.” This he said “will ensure that members from the Executive who are found wanting of corruption charges are dealt with without bias, and that the ACC will be in the position to address corruption without external interferences.”

National Secretary General of APC, Ambassador Osman Foday Yansaneh, who also spoke to Awareness Times Newspaper, said current APC-led government is guided by an agenda of zero tolerance for corruption. He said “President Koroma’s Agenda for Prosperity is built on the background of zero tolerance to corruption.”

He said that his party will not encourage corrupt practices as he said “corruption can easily deter the progress made by any government.”

We will continue to bring you more reactions from various spheres of the society on the corruption by Mr. Bockarie Foh.