Monrovia, Liberia – Regardless of a marginal decline in public notion, corruption in Liberia stays deeply entrenched, notably in public establishments such because the police and well being sectors. In line with the 2024 State of Corruption Report (SCORE) launched by the Middle for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), 83% of Liberians nonetheless consider corruption is excessive—down from 90% in earlier years however nonetheless alarmingly elevated.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
The report, a part of CENTAL’s Nationwide Integrity Constructing and Anti-Corruption (NIBA) Program funded by the Swedish Worldwide Growth Cooperation Company (SIDA), was launched in Monrovia earlier than authorities officers, civil society actors, and worldwide companions together with the Swedish and Irish Embassies.
Police, Well being, and Judiciary Rank Highest for Corruption
The report reveals that 71% of respondents view the Liberia Nationwide Police (LNP) as essentially the most corrupt establishment—a slight drop from 73% in 2023. The healthcare sector follows with 46%, down from 59%, whereas courtroom companies are available in third at 26%, a 12-point lower from 2023. The schooling sector can also be flagged, although its rating declined from 31% to 24%.
Regardless of these declines, these 4 sectors—police, well being, judiciary, and schooling—stay essentially the most corruption-prone within the eyes of the general public.
“When in comparison with the earlier report, police, medical, courtroom, and academic companies nonetheless rank as the highest companies susceptible to corruption regardless of the lower within the percentages,” the report acknowledged.
Avenue-Stage Corruption Persists
Public complaints about corruption inside the LNP stay widespread. Prison suspects reportedly pay bribes for launch, whereas distributors and transport operators incessantly face extortion.
In January, Police Inspector Basic Gregory Coleman caught freeway patrol officers extorting bribes from drivers on the street between Nimba County and Monrovia. In a Fb submit, Coleman mentioned he intercepted the officers with a black plastic bag crammed with cash believed to be bribes.
“This afternoon, whereas on my approach from Nimba, I noticed one thing actually regarding. Some freeway patrol officers had been bothering drivers and taking bribes,” Coleman acknowledged.
“These officers have been turned over to the Skilled Requirements Division (PSD) for additional disciplinary motion.”
Nevertheless, the PSD has but to launch the end result of the investigation, prompting public concern over accountability.
Well being Sector Faces Allegations of Misappropriation
Corruption in Liberia’s healthcare system continues to undermine entry and high quality of care. Types of abuse embrace bribery, theft of provides, procurement fraud, and affected person exploitation.
A 2023 FrontPage Africa investigation uncovered a scandal involving US$188,978.86 from a USAID-funded healthcare undertaking in Margibi County. A leaked audio recording implicated native well being officers in collusion with distributors to divert undertaking funds. Though the distributors restituted the cash, the ninth Judicial Circuit Court docket in Bong County acquitted the well being officers concerned.
Authorities Dedication Seen with Skepticism
Whereas some features have been recorded, skepticism over the federal government’s dedication to combating corruption stays. Solely 35% of respondents expressed confidence within the Govt Department, up from 27% in 2023. The Judiciary noticed a modest enhance in confidence from 28% to 33%, however the Legislature suffered an additional decline—from 24% in 2023 to 22% in 2024.
Fewer Residents Witnessing or Paying Bribes
The report notes a big drop in residents witnessing corruption. In 2024, 57% of respondents mentioned they’d witnessed corrupt acts—a 17-point decline from 74% in 2023. Amongst those that did: 50% witnessed bribery, 13% noticed extortion and 11% reported abuse of workplace.
Equally, solely 26% of respondents admitted to paying a bribe in 2024, down from 34% in 2023 and 46% in 2021. Of those that paid bribes, 36% did so to keep away from punishment or resolve an issue.
Reforms Underway, However Enforcement Lags
The Boakai administration has launched a number of anti-corruption reforms, together with implementation of digital authorities procurement (e-GP) by the Public Procurement and Concessions Fee (PPCC), reactivation of the Workplace of the Ombudsman to implement the Code of Conduct, institution of the Conflict and Financial Crimes Court docket Workplace to draft laws for a specialised anti-corruption courtroom, and strengthening of audit capabilities by means of the Inside Audit Company (IAA) and the Basic Auditing Fee (GAC).
Different reforms embrace the lunch of a digital helpful possession registry by LEITI, civil Service Company-led payroll and workforce reforms and transparency enhancements on the Liberia Income Authority (LRA) by means of ITAS and ASYCUDA programs.
CENTAL mentioned whereas these reforms are seen as steps in the fitting course, enforcement stays weak. For instance, the Asset Restoration Activity Power has confronted authorized challenges, and there continues to be low compliance with asset declaration legal guidelines—at the same time as President Boakai publicly declared his personal belongings.
In regards to the Report
The 2024 State of Corruption Report is the fourth version of CENTAL’s SCORE collection. It was developed by means of desk analysis and nationwide surveys and affords an impartial evaluation of corruption developments and dynamics in Liberia. It assesses the effectiveness of public integrity establishments, civil society, the media, and authorities branches in addressing corruption, and was funded by the Swedish Worldwide Growth Cooperation Company (SIDA) by means of the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia. CENTAL is the Liberia chapter of Transparency Worldwide, the worldwide coalition towards corruption, with networks in over 120 international locations.
