The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday 12th June 2024 presented its Systems and Processes Review Report for the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU).
The presentation ceremony took place at the Great Hall of the Goderich campus in Freetown at which event the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Director of Studies, MMTU, Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh disclosed that the day is another happy and important chapter in the history of the institution.
Part of the report reads: “data analyzed states that the MMTU achieved an overall compliance rate by 98, by fully implementing 93 of the 95 recommendations proffered on 21 thematic areas. This means that the MMTU administration took the recommendations of the ACC meant to improve service delivery and mitigate corruption at the university seriously.”
Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh recalled that the ACC had earlier visited the institution after which it made a number of recommendations and that the report indicates 98% compliance with its recommendations and asserted that they complied with 93 out of 95 general and specific recommendations.
Some of the accusations levied against the Vice Chancellor and Principal of MMTU, Dr. Philip John Kanu were that he had squandered lecturers’ salaries, siphoned government Grants-in-Aid for students, illegal dismissal of staff while the specific corruption allegations were non-payment of end of service benefits, project management and students hostels fees refunds, all of which are unfounded.
Among other allegations, the ACC also investigated governance, internal audit, strategic plan, academic performance, sexual harassment of female students, qualifications of Deans of Faculties, own source revenue, withholding tax, human resources, procurement, estate management, service charter, academic, teaching and learning support.
The Senior Deputy
Registrar, MMTU, Mrs. Melissa Ray attributed this feat to hard work, dedication and commitment, noted that more work needs to be done, asserted that it is mandatory for the institution to abide by the ACC recommendations, underscored that they are determined to do the right thing for Sierra Leone as the ACC has proven them right and assured that they would continue to do the right things.
Mrs. Melissa Ray also encouraged all students and staff to widely disseminate the good news, recalled that some staff, lecturers and even students had accused the institution of corruption, illegal dismissals, nepotism, tribalism and other scathing accusations and that they went back to the drawing board to implement the ACC recommendations.
She furthered that the ACC monitored their compliance rate as well as the recommendations they did not fully complied with like recruitment of a Budget Officer, a duty that is currently being performed by the Director of Finance and drafting of Conditions of Service that is a violation of the University Act as all Technical Universities in the country are using one.
According to Mrs. Melissa Ray, after the ACC visit, they had an initial meeting with staff, that they established the Compliance Committee dubbed the ‘Champions Team’ after which they drafted, validated, finalized and presented the report to the ACC.
Some of the matrix used by the ACC, are 0-49-no compliance indicating court action, 50-79 a warning letter, 80-90 further engagement with the ACC and 90-100 full compliance.
During the Systems and Processes Review, the ACC consulted and interviewed students and other stakeholders and gave a deadline for compliance.
Some students interviewed noted that the review process did not affect the smooth administration of the MMTU during the period as they believed in the integrity of the ACC stating that the ACC, the Human Rights Commission and other institutions had in the past investigated the MMTU but had always been given a clean slate.
