By: Sylvester Choloplay
Monrovia, Tuesday, February 11, 2025 – Liberia has improved its ranking in the fight against corruption, gaining two points on the 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The country’s score increased from 25 in 2023 to 27 in 2024—the first improvement in seven years, according to Transparency International.
The CPI ranks 180 countries based on public sector corruption, using factors such as bribery, misuse of funds, and nepotism. Countries are scored from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), with higher scores indicating better governance.
While Liberia’s progress under the Boakai-Koung administration is a positive step, the country remains among the worst performers globally. The improvement is attributed to actions like suspending and dismissing corrupt officials and requiring asset declarations from top government leaders.
Anderson Miamen, Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), commended these steps but stressed the need for broader reforms. He urged the government to address all corruption allegations, including those involving high-ranking officials, to ensure accountability.
Despite this progress, Liberia has dropped 10 points since 2014, and corruption remains a major issue. A 2023 CENTAL report showed that 90% of Liberians believe corruption is high and have little confidence in the government’s ability to tackle it effectively.
CENTAL is calling for stronger action, including acting on reports from anti-corruption agencies and ensuring corrupt officials are prosecuted. The organization warned that selective accountability weakens trust in the government’s efforts.
Across Africa, corruption remains a challenge, with Sub-Saharan Africa having an average CPI score of 33. Botswana (61), Mauritius (59), Cabo Verde (58), and Seychelles (56) lead the continent in transparency, while Somalia (12) and South Sudan (13) are among the worst.
Liberia’s recent progress shows potential, but sustained efforts and stronger reforms are needed to build a corruption-free future.
