By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, January 5, 2026 – The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has announced the operationalization of the Whistleblower and Witness Protection Regulations, 2025, a landmark legal framework designed to safeguard individuals who expose corruption or provide evidence in corruption-related cases.
The new regulations establish clear protection mechanisms for whistleblowers and witnesses facing threats, intimidation, or retaliation. Applicants can formally request protection from the ACC, which is mandated to act within defined timelines and provide urgent interim measures where life or property is at risk.
Approved beneficiaries will enter into binding protection agreements with the Commission, granting access to measures such as physical security, relocation, and even identity changes. Special provisions are included for children, overseen by the High Court and guided by the principle of the child’s best interest.
The framework introduces a reward system for whistleblowers whose disclosures lead to successful exposure of corruption. Victims of retaliation—such as unlawful dismissal, demotion, or discrimination—are entitled to compensation. Offenders found guilty of retaliatory actions face strict sanctions, including mandatory removal from office upon conviction.
The regulations criminalize attempts to obstruct protection measures, intimidate whistleblowers, or suppress disclosures. All information relating to whistleblowers and witnesses will be subject to strict confidentiality safeguards, with disclosure permitted only under narrowly defined circumstances.
The ACC emphasized that the regulations align Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption framework with international best practices, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC). These conventions call for effective safeguards for reporting persons and witnesses, protections now given practical effect in Sierra Leone.
The Commission expressed gratitude to President Brig. Gen. (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Parliament, and the Office of the Attorney General for their support in bringing the regulations to fruition.
“The message is clear: Sierra Leone will protect those who speak up, reward integrity, and punish retaliation,” the ACC stated, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the nation’s anti-corruption campaign.