By Hassan Osman Kargbo
In a significant move against corruption within the educational sector, Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has indicted two senior officials of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) on various corruption charges. Issa Kamara, the Chief Examiner, faces six counts of corruption, while his Assistant, Ibrahim Kamara, is indicted on five counts, according to a statement from the ACC’s Director of Public Education and Outreach, Abubakarr Turay.
Both officials are charged with multiple offences under the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008, amended by the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Act of 2019. The charges include one count each of Abuse of Office, Abuse of Position, and Using Office for Advantage, as well as one count of Conspiracy to Commit a Corruption Offence, and one count of Academic Malpractice.
Turay highlighted that the corruption stemmed from Issa and Ibrahim’s improper use of their positions to benefit Foday Fasuluku Mansaray, a candidate preparing for the upcoming May/June 2024 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE), an act that does not only undermine the integrity of the examination process but also raises concerns about equity and fairness within the educational system.
One of the most alarming allegations involves Issa Kamara allegedly collecting a specific examination script belonging to his nephew in August 2024. He handed the script over to Ibrahim Kamara, who then answered questions on the script before returning it to the pile of scripts to be marked, an act of academic malpractice that is seen as a serious violation of the principles of integrity and objectivity that should govern the examination process.
The indictment of the WAEC officials underscores the ACC’s ongoing commitment to uphold transparency and integrity in Sierra Leone’s public institutions. The commission has long been emphasizing that corruption in education hampers national development and erodes public trust in academic qualifications.
As the legal process unfolds, ACC is urging the public to remain vigilant and continue reporting any suspected instances of corruption, particularly in institutions that are meant to be bastions of fairness and integrity. The implications of such a case may resonate beyond the individuals involved, potentially leading to broader reforms aimed at tackling systemic corruption within Sierra Leone’s educational setup.
Issa and Ibrahim’s indictment illustrates the ACC’s dedication to addressing corruption at all levels and serving justice in an area that is vital for the country’s future.
The public eagerly awaits further developments in this case and the potential ripple effects it may have on the standards of governance and corruption control in Sierra Leone.
