By Joseph Momoh, D.S Reporter
The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority is putting its weight behind the next generation of leaders, backing a new youth programme aimed at fighting corruption and preventing conflict before it starts.
Under the “Catch Them Young: Combating Corruption Through Educational Debates and Peace & Integrity Training” initiative, senior secondary students in the Western Area are being equipped with lessons in accountability, ethical leadership, and social cohesion.
The programme is spearheaded by Rotary Peace Fellow Alex A. Bah, who also heads public relations at the Anti-Corruption Commission.
A recent session held at the Integrity House Conference Room in Tower Hill brought students together for practical training on dispute resolution and relationship-building. It was facilitated by Titus Mohamed Kallon, Acting Director of Conflict Prevention at the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, under the theme: “Peace Begins With Us: Young People, Conflict Prevention and Building Social Cohesion.”
As an Integrity Champion Partner, SLPHA says the partnership aligns with its mandate to promote transparency and ethical conduct.
Addressing the students, SLPHA’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Mac’Ivan Kakpindi Vandy, urged them to live integrity in private and in public.
“Integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is watching,” Vandy stated. “Public office is not personal property. Public resources are not personal resources.”
He also pushed back on the idea that young people must wait to lead.
“You are not just leaders of tomorrow. You are leaders today,” he told the participants.
The training focused on identifying root causes of conflict in schools and communities. Students debated solutions centered on active listening, respect for differing views, and constructive dialogue as tools to de-escalate tensions.
The initiative merges anti-corruption education with peacebuilding, encouraging students to see how daily choices impact their schools and society at large.
SLPHA’s involvement comes after the Authority scored 87% in the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024-2028 monitoring report, jointly ranking first among Agencies, Authorities and Commissions alongside the Sierra Leone Airport Authority.
That performance, officials said, informed SLPHA’s decision to champion youth integrity work.
The programme complements existing ACC efforts such as Integrity Clubs in secondary schools and Accountability Now Clubs in tertiary institutions — all designed to instill anti-corruption values early.
For participants, the goal is twofold: prepare them for future leadership, and drive responsible behavior in classrooms and communities right now.
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