Freetown, 10th December 2025– Sierra Leone’s fight against corruption is being undermined by chronic budget shortfalls and resource constraints that threaten the autonomy and effectiveness of key oversight institutions, according to the Sierra Leone Governance and Corruption Diagnostic 2025 by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other watchdog agencies, including the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL), remain tied to the regular state budget process and allocations made at the discretion of the Presidency. This dependence has reduced their financial autonomy and raised concerns about their independence.
Officials across the institutions report that budgetary constraints have created serious operational challenges. Delayed disbursements often stall recruitment and retention efforts, while continued cuts have limited capacity‑building programs. The impact is visible: in 2022, the ACC recorded a staff turnover rate of 8.5%, with low salary scales making it difficult to retain skilled professionals.
“The low salary scale also makes it difficult to retain skilled professionals… lack of intelligence officers (particularly in provincial offices incommensurate with the workload), have been referred to as major obstacles to operations. The resource inadequacies also hinder the ACC’s capacity to launch proactive investigations”.
Beyond staffing, the agencies face severe shortages of vehicles, office space, IT systems, and other material infrastructure. Provincial offices, in particular, lack sufficient intelligence officers to match their workload, leaving gaps in monitoring and enforcement.
These inadequacies have hindered the ACC’s ability to launch proactive investigations, weakening the country’s broader anti‑corruption framework. The report warns that without stronger financial independence and investment in resources, Sierra Leone risks losing ground in its battle against graft.
It concludes that ensuring adequate funding, improving infrastructure, and safeguarding institutional autonomy are critical steps if Sierra Leone is to strengthen accountability and restore public trust in its governance systems.
