SONARA takes firm stance against corruption

The National Oil Refining Company Ltd, SONARA, has reiterated its firm stand and commitment against corruption and has re-echoed its zeal towards the promotion of ethics.

This was reiterated at the company's official launch of its Code of Ethics, which aim to promote values such as safety, professionalism, equity, team spirit and discipline on Friday March 23, 2015.

Guiding Principles For SONARA Workers Speaking at the launch which took place at the SONARA Club House, Evelyn Martin, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Unit of SONARA, said the company is using the national strategy which entails the prevention, sensitisation, creation of the right environment and encouraging those who are reporting cases and dishing out sanctions.

She said activities so far carried out are in the domain of prevention and sensitization.

According to Evelyn Martins, the Code of Ethics defines all the principles that will guide SONARA workers.

Laudable Initiative Meanwhile, the President of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, CONAC, Reverend Diuedonne Massi Gams, lauded SONARA for putting in place an Ethics Club.

To Massi Gams, it was a praiseworthy decision to get a team institutionalised whose result is the production of the Code of Ethics. Gams called on other companies to emulate SONARA's example in order to reduce corruption to a great extent or perhaps completely eradicate it.

When he took the rostrum in his keynote address, the General Manager of SONARA, Ibrahim Talba Malla, said the launching of the Code of Ethics was a landmark achievement as it will go a long way to boost the company’s commitment to fight against corruption and promote good governance.

Talba Malla added that the commitment falls in line with Government’s policy as stated in the National Strategy for the Fight Against Corruption.

He said in 2014 within the context of the Rapid Results Initiative, SONARA set as performance by reducing to 24 hours the waiting time for trucks at the loading station for tankers, an initiative that has helped the company a lot.

The General Manager said in 2015, as a follow-up, a team shall be set up to study the outline of the implementation of tools and structures of a one-stop office in order to render operations more effective.

Huddles Ahead, But Success In Sight Talba Malla stated that SONARA is highly committed to the principles of transparency and that the Code of Ethics must guide their actions at all times as a matter of value and also a requirement for good governance.

He affirmed that he was conscious that the road ahead was long and full of huddles but was confident that they shall succeed.

While calling on the senior staff to show good examples for junior staff to follow, Talba Malla told them that the Code of Ethics is a pledge of their brand image and credibility towards shareholders and partners as it will enable them understand the concept of what is proper to do or not while carrying out their duties.

“It will also help each one of us to take the right decision before acting,” he said.

The Document The 62-page document signed by the General Manager of SONARA is produced in English and French. It opens with a message from the General Manager explaining what the company is strongly committed at doing.

It is structured into three sections; Fundamental Principles, Principles of Personal Behaviour and finally the Implementation of the Code of Ethics.

The various Directors of SONARA each signed the code of ethics undertaking to comply with it.

In attendance were the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Zang III, and the Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Motanga Andrew Monjimba among other top brass.