The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting integrity, ethical leadership and responsible citizenship among young people through its support for the Catch Them Young initiative.
The initiative, titled “Catch Them Young: Combating Corruption Through Educational Debates and Peace and Integrity Training,” officially commenced on Thursday, August 20, 2026, with a one day training programme for Senior Secondary School pupils from seven schools across the Western Area.
The programme was organised by Rotary Peace Fellow and Head of Public Relations at the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), Alex A. Bah, with SLPHA supporting the initiative as an Integrity Champion Partner.
The training was held at the ACC’s Integrity House in Tower Hill and focused on peacebuilding, conflict prevention, integrity, accountability, ethical leadership, responsible citizenship and debate.
Representing SLPHA, Head of Media and Public Relations Mac’Ivan Kakpindi Vandy delivered a keynote address titled “Integrity in Action: Building Ethical Leaders for Sierra Leone’s Future.”
Vandy encouraged the pupils to see integrity as more than a principle discussed in classrooms, stressing that it should be reflected in their daily decisions and behaviour.
He described integrity as doing the right thing even when nobody is watching and warned the young participants that seemingly small acts of dishonesty could gradually influence their character and future conduct.
Vandy also reminded the pupils that public leadership comes with a responsibility to protect and properly manage resources entrusted to public officials.
“Public office is not personal property. Public resources are not personal resources,” he told the participants.
He further challenged the common description of young people as “leaders of tomorrow,” telling them that they are already leaders and should begin demonstrating responsibility and integrity in their schools, homes and communities.
According to SLPHA, the fight against corruption must begin before individuals assume positions of authority. The Authority believes that exposing young people to integrity, accountability, peaceful dialogue and ethical leadership can help shape responsible citizens and future leaders.
The training was facilitated by professionals from the peacebuilding, anti corruption and youth development sectors, including representatives of the ACC and the Independent Commission for Peacebuilding and National Cohesion.
At the end of the training, participants were inducted as Peace and Integrity Ambassadors after pledging to promote peace, uphold integrity, reject wrongdoing and lead by example.
The next phase will involve an Inter School Integrity Debate Competition aimed at developing critical thinking, evidence based argument, persuasion and respectful disagreement.
SLPHA said its support for the initiative represents an investment in the values needed to strengthen Sierra Leone’s future leadership and public institutions.
