By Amos Harris
The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has delivered a sobering assessment of the country’s anti-corruption fight, warning that corruption remains one of Liberia’s most serious governance challenges despite the government’s reported efforts to curb the problem.
Launching its 2025 State of Corruption Report (SCORE) in Monrovia, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson D. Miamen said while some progress has been recorded in strengthening anti-corruption measures, those gains continue to be overshadowed by weak enforcement, selective accountability, and limited resources for institutions charged with fighting corruption. The report concludes that corruption continues to undermine public service delivery, weaken citizens’ confidence in state institutions, and slow Liberia’s national development agenda. According to CENTAL, reforms introduced by the government have yet to produce the level of accountability needed to convince the public that corruption is being tackled effectively.
Public perception remains overwhelmingly negative. The survey found that 59 percent of respondents believe corruption is at a high level, while another 35 percent rated it as moderate. In total, 94 percent of Liberians surveyed said corruption remains widespread across the country, despite a slight improvement in public perception compared to previous years. Although respondents acknowledged some improvement in the government’s commitment to fighting corruption, confidence in the institutions responsible for enforcing accountability has continued to decline. The report found that public trust in the Judiciary, Legislature, and other integrity institutions weakened during the reporting period, reflecting growing skepticism over the fair and consistent enforcement of anti-corruption laws.
CENTAL also highlighted widespread corruption in public service delivery, identifying police officers as the public officials most frequently associated with corrupt practices. Medical workers and court officials ranked next, while citizens also expressed increasing concern over corruption within the education and transportation sectors.
The report acknowledged several achievements by government institutions, including improved compliance with asset declaration requirements and ongoing corruption investigations. However, it argued that enforcement remains inconsistent and often fails to hold powerful individuals accountable. According to the report, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission received 44 corruption complaints during the reporting period, completed investigations into 27 cases, secured 12 indictments, but achieved only three convictions. CENTAL said the figures demonstrate the gap between investigations and successful prosecution.
The organization also raised concerns about public financial management. It noted that the General Auditing Commission uncovered widespread financial irregularities across government institutions, yet only 37 percent of audit recommendations issued to 62 audited entities had been implemented, leaving the majority of audit findings unresolved.
CENTAL further criticized delays within Liberia’s justice system, saying corruption cases continue to languish in the courts because of congested dockets and the absence of a specialized anti-corruption court. The report warned that prolonged legal proceedings weaken deterrence and diminish public confidence in the country’s anti-graft campaign. While the government suspended hundreds of officials for failing to comply with asset declaration requirements and reported improved compliance, CENTAL said enforcement remains uneven. The report noted that recommendations to sanction some senior government officials were not fully implemented, raising concerns about whether anti-corruption laws are being applied equally to all public officials.
The report also cited chronic financial constraints affecting anti-corruption institutions. According to CENTAL, delayed budget disbursements and inadequate operational funding continue to hamper investigations, public education campaigns, and enforcement activities, even as corruption cases become more sophisticated. Another major concern identified in the report is the reluctance of citizens to report corruption. CENTAL said many Liberians believe complaints rarely result in meaningful action, discouraging public participation in exposing corrupt practices and weakening national accountability efforts.
Despite acknowledging some institutional reforms, CENTAL concluded that Liberia still faces a significant gap between anti-corruption policies and their implementation. The organization called for stronger political commitment, impartial investigations, adequate funding for integrity institutions, faster judicial action, and consistent enforcement of anti-corruption laws to restore public confidence and achieve meaningful progress in the fight against corruption.
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