The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has reported that nearly three-quarters of its reform recommendations across government ministries, departments, and agencies have been implemented, marking a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s fight against graft.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Freetown, ACC’s Coordinator of Operations, Patrick Sandi, explained that the Commission’s stronger mandate, secured through the 2019 amendment of the 2008 Anti-Corruption Act, has given it sharper enforcement powers while also ensuring greater alignment with the government’s Medium-Term National Development Plan and its “Big Five Changers” agenda.

According to Sandi, since 2018 the Commission has conducted more than 20 corruption risk assessments across critical state institutions and issued over 400 reform recommendations to strengthen accountability frameworks. Out of these, 336 recommendations have been fully carried out, representing a compliance rate of 73 percent.

He noted that this level of adherence reflects a growing institutional culture of reform, as government agencies adjust their structures and practices to meet anti-corruption standards.

Sandi also highlighted progress in asset declaration compliance, an area that had long been considered one of the weakest points in Sierra Leone’s accountability system.

He said the introduction of a modernized online declaration portal, developed in partnership with the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), has made it easier for public officials to meet their obligations and for the commission to monitor compliance.

While the ACC has often been in the spotlight for high-profile cases, Sandi was keen to stress that the commission’s approach goes beyond prosecution.

“The fight against corruption is not just legal, it is systemic,” he said. “What we are seeing today is a culture of reform taking root across government, and that is where the real victory lies.”

On current investigations, the commission confirmed that Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty, has been cleared of allegations following a thorough probe. However, Dr. Vandy Konneh, the former Chairman of the National Commission of Persons with Disabilities, remains under investigation over issues relating to the management of funds.

The commission also pointed to broader gains achieved in recent years. Conviction rates in corruption-related court cases now stand above 90 percent, while billions of Leones have been recovered through fines, restitution, and non-conviction-based asset recovery.

Sandi added that Sierra Leone’s progress has been recognized internationally, with the country maintaining steady improvements on the Millennium Challenge Corporation scorecard and Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.

Despite these achievements, the ACC acknowledged that challenges remain. Sandi emphasized the need for continued collaboration with civil society, the media, and grassroots communities to deepen public trust in anti-corruption reforms.

He also underscored that sectors such as education, health, and social protection will remain a priority for the Commission, as corruption in these areas directly undermines the welfare of ordinary citizens.

“We are not declaring victory yet,” Sandi said. “But the progress we have made shows that change is possible. With sustained effort, corruption can be pushed back, and integrity can become the standard in public life.”