By Alusine Fullah

The Anti-Corruption Commission has called on all public officers on a press release that was dated on the 26^th January, 2024 to declare their assets, income and liabilities by the deadline of 31^st March, 2024. The press release reads:

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) wishes to remind all Public Officers that, pursuant to Section 119 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as amended in 2019, they are required to declare their income, assets and liabilities by the deadline date of 31^st March, 2024. Section 119 (1) provides that: Every public officer shall, within three months of becoming a public officer, deposit with the Commission a declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and thereafter in every two years that he is public officer, but not later than 31^st March of that second year, deposit further declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and also while leaving office.

According to the press release, it categorically spells out public officials who are entitled to declare their assets, income and liabilities. The Public Officers required to declare their assets include: it reads: “a) Persons in elective offices; b) Persons appointed by the President; c) Public officers in grade 7 and above; and d) Public officers below grade 7 but with fiduciary (financial) responsibilities, such as bursars, etc. The categories of teachers in Government and Government-assisted schools that are expected to declare their income, assets and liabilities during this declaration period (2024) are: Principals, Vice Principals, Head Teachers, Deputy Head Teachers and Bursars.” Similarly, newly appointed/elected (including Paramount Chiefs and Court Chairmen) and former Public Officers are required to declare their income, assets and liabilities to the Commission.

The press release invokes Section 122A (1) which states that a public officer who, without reasonable cause, fails to submit his Assets Declaration Form or knowingly records false, inaccurate, or misleading information in the Declaration Form shall, in addition to any other penalty imposed under this Act, be liable to administrative sanctions,…” including a directive to withhold their Salaries, Pension/Benefits, Suspension, Dismissal and/or Criminal Prosecution.”