The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has on Wednesday 12 July 2023 presented its report on systems and processes review for the Milton Margai Technical University – MMTU at the Great Hall of the Goderich campus.
In his overview of the report, the Director of Prevention Department, ACC, Rashid Turay disclosed that the Commission has conducted several reviews of Ministries, Departments and Agencies – MDAs with recommendations to improve service delivery. He recalled that early this year the ACC held a meeting with the administration of MMTU and affirmed that they did a comprehensive review of the institution.
Turay said that the ACC received reports of corruption from individuals but clarified that no acts of corruption were discovered at MMTU, but ricks that can lead to corrupt practices and made recommendations. He intimated that the ceremony is to develop the implementation matrix as well as assign responsible persons to implement the recommendations adding that the ACC would visit the MMTU after three months to check the process/progress of implementation, warned against non-compliance that is punishable by law reiterating that the administration must take the recommendations and implementation very seriously and assured that the ACC would continue its engagements with MMTU.
In his PowerPoint presentation, Samuel Marah Esq, ACC Deputy Director of Prevention Department clarified that the ACC is not at MMTU to investigate corruption. He recalled that the Commission received reports of alleged corrupt offences from some lecturers and members of the public that prompted their action, that they conducted a holistic review of systems and processes at MMTU including finance, procurement, estate management etc. and commended the administration for its cooperation.
According to Marah Esq, the administration did not take stock when transiting from polytechnic to university status, that proper boards and committees are yet to be setup as required by the University Act, that there is no organogram, strategic plan to expedite development and operations, no academic plan, annual plan, annual reports and audited financial statements among others all of which he underscored undermines performance and accountability.
On the allegations of illegal dismissals, nepotism and tribalism, deduction of Le3m from the salary of staff for ICT training at Blue Crest College, sexual harassment, refund for use of students’ hostels, misappropriation of funds from the Skills Development Project funded by the World Bank, non-payment of end of service benefits, the ACC report vindicated the administration but recommended that the policy on sexual harassment be reviewed, that proper records of matters investigated by the administration be kept as well as records of minutes of important meetings and ensure that all outstanding payments are made to retired and dismissed staff.
Other issues highlighted in the report include the qualifications for Deans and Heads of Departments, donations to the institution for which the ACC recommended that a donation register be provided, lease and use of college lands, procurement and use of vehicles and office furniture and that there is no policy on own source of revenue citing the non-payment of revenue to the institution by cell phone companies as well as a policy to maximize it.
The Deputy Director of Prevention Department furthered that the Brookfieds campus of the university must put modalities in place to generate income, reiterated that lapses are not corruption, disclosed that progress has been made to put structures in place to minimize corruption reiterating that MDAs must within three months implement the recommendations on receipt of the report or complain of challenges/non-compliance within seven days of receipt of the report to the ACC.
The MMTU Chancellor, Dr. Victor Kabia, who received the report on behalf of the institution, said he wholeheartedly accepts it and promised that they would do their best to study and take action affirming that they are interested in accountability and transparency and expects that peace and stability would now prevail at MMTU to move the institution forward.
The MMTU Public Relations Officer, Elizabeth Sesay, who rendered the vote of thanks, underscored that the report would now allay the fear of the public about the numerous and erroneous allegations against the administration.
The Chief Technical Education Officer in the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Josephus Brima chaired the well-attended event while the Head of Monitoring Unit, ACC, Mr. Ibrahim Kamara-Kay, catalogued the findings and recommendations of the report.
