MONROVIA – The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, launched the fourth edition of its annual State of Corruption Report (SCORE) 2024 in Monrovia. During a detailed PowerPoint presentation, Program Manager Atty. Gerald D. Yeakula highlighted both significant findings and serious limitations of the survey. With support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia, the report provides a broad overview of Liberia’s anti-corruption efforts and persistent governance challenges.
According to Atty. Yeakula, the SCORE report reflects CENTAL’s continued effort to track and analyze corruption trends in Liberia. “We are very happy for this partnership,” he said, emphasizing that Sweden’s consistent support had enabled CENTAL to explore the anti-corruption landscape using a combination of perception surveys, investigative tools, and media monitoring. While the 2024 report acknowledged some progress in public engagement on corruption issues, it also emphasized systemic weaknesses in governance and institutional accountability. “The purpose of the report is not just to highlight the bad, but to also show positive developments in the anti-corruption space,” Yeakula stated.
CENTAL surveyed 752 respondents across nine counties: Montserrado, Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa, Margibi, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Rivercess and Lofa using population-weighted sampling based on the most recent census data. However, Yeakula acknowledged the geographic limitations of the survey. “We cannot use it to generalize the entire country. If we had gone to the southeast and other places, the picture might have been different,” he explained. Most respondents were drawn from towns and communities accessible by road, which raises concerns about the representativeness of views from remote or underserved areas. “We must recognize that the report did not reach hard-to-reach places,” Yeakula added. “This affects the universality of our findings.”
On the definition of corruption, Yeakula noted that the report uses both Transparency International’s definition, “abuse of power for private gain,” and a localized Liberian interpretation that includes unfair advantage and the denial of people’s rights. The report outlines various unresolved corruption cases and institutional failures. Another unresolved issue concerns US$600,000 allocated to the “Inauguration funds” of President Boakai, which reportedly went unaccounted for despite claims of an ongoing investigation.
A more recent case, in 2024, implicated the Ministry of Public Works, which was accused of allocating US$2.4 million for a road rehabilitation project without following procurement protocols. Although the ministry later claimed it disbursed only US$900,000, the issue triggered legislative hearings, but the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has yet to release a final report. “The public deserves answers,” Yeakula asserted. “We cannot continue with a culture of silence on these matters.”
The report also pointed fingers at the judiciary. Allegations emerged that the daughter of the Chief Justice was on the judiciary’s payroll despite not actively working there, yet no public update was provided by either the judiciary or the LACC. “We need to see these institutions living up to their mandates,” Yeakula urged.
Data for the SCORE report was collected by trained students from CENTAL’s iClub program. “It’s a form of empowerment for young people,” Yeakula said. “They help us access views from across the counties, and this is what feeds into the statistical strength of our study.”
Despite its limitations, SCORE 2024 stands as one of Liberia’s most comprehensive corruption assessment tools. CENTAL is urging the government to take concrete action based on the findings. “This report is a tool for accountability,” Yeakula emphasized. “Now, we hope those in power will act on its findings and recommendations, not just for show but to bring meaningful change.”
The findings must be interpreted within the context of their geographic and methodological limitations. The absence of southeastern counties and other hard-to-reach areas means that key perspectives may have been excluded. While areas with better infrastructure were surveyed, deep-forest communities and others beyond paved roads were not included. This restricts the generalizability of the results.
Corruption in Liberia remains deeply entrenched. The report reiterates Transparency International’s definition of corruption while also emphasizing how, in the Liberian context, corruption includes the unfair allocation of public resources and the political exploitation of citizens. One example was the former president’s alleged order to procure SUVs without political approval, a decision that sparked public concern but led to no investigation. Another case, known as the Nicaragua Railway scandal, involved US$600,000 reportedly allocated to an unexecuted project. No clear explanation was given, and the president at the time publicly defended those involved.
In 2014, the Ministry of Public Works reportedly spent US$2.4 million without adhering to procurement laws. Later, the amount was downgraded to US$900,000 by the government, but no prosecutions followed. The LACC claimed it was reviewing the matter, but no report was issued. In another instance, the daughter of the Chief Justice appeared on the judiciary payroll while allegedly working elsewhere. No clarification or official action followed.
Other scandals from previous years continue to haunt the present. Dorr Cooper, who later served as Inspector General at the Ministry of Commerce, was accused of graduating from the University of Liberia through fraudulent means in 2004. Despite the controversy, he faced no consequences. More recently, the acquisition of 285 earth-moving machines, initially claimed to cost US$4 million, was suddenly said to have cost only US$2 million under public pressure. This raised concerns about inflated pricing and non-transparent procurement.
A Chinese businessman, reportedly known as “the real minister,” was arrested on allegations of influence-peddling and corrupt mining license allocations. No update has been provided on his case. Similarly, the Central Bank of Liberia suspended its governor over questionable financial activities but later settled with him for over US$307,000. This left the public confused about whether he was guilty or unjustly removed. In another puzzling case, Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) commissioners were suspended for misconduct and later compensated with US$25,000 settlements.
The SCORE report also revisited troubling cases from the past administration. Former Minister of State Nathaniel McGill was accused of placing 728 ghost names on payroll and misappropriating US$2 million from the budget. A 2024 audit found that more than ten ministries had overspent without authorization. The Liberia Land Authority was accused of illegally leasing 40 acres of state land. Yet, no prosecutions have resulted from these serious allegations.
In the private sector, vendors linked to the Montserrado County Health Team admitted to payroll fraud and agreed to restitute over US$10,000 in supplies. Despite this, the accused were acquitted in court, raising questions about judicial integrity.
Still, the report recognizes progress. Citizens are increasingly engaged in anti-corruption efforts. One major reform has been the introduction of an electronic procurement platform, designed to reduce human interference and increase transparency. However, its effectiveness will depend on political will and rigorous enforcement.
CENTAL noted that while several initiatives to tackle corruption are underway, they require stronger implementation. For example, the Code of Conduct for public officials, passed in 2014, has often been ignored. The restructured Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) now has a mandate to enforce it, which is viewed as a step forward.
CENTAL welcomed the drafting of legislation to create an anti-corruption court by the Office of Law Reform and Economic Cooperation. Although the court has not been established, CENTAL views this move as a meaningful push for accountability. Similarly, President Joseph Boakai’s decision to include key integrity institutions like the LACC and the General Auditing Commission (GAC) in the reactivated Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce has been positively noted.
At the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), efforts to improve tax administration were commended. CENTAL also praised the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) for launching a Beneficial Ownership Registry, which helps the public trace the real owners of companies doing business with the government.
Digital reforms are also gaining traction. The Liberia Business Registry and Licensing Office have integrated online platforms to reduce face-to-face interactions that often lead to bribery. CENTAL encouraged continued digitization across government agencies to reduce corruption risks.
The Internal Audit Agency (IAA) was applauded for rejecting questionable financial requests during the government transition, including a US$500,000 dispatch request. CENTAL emphasized the need for more in-ministry auditors to detect and prevent corruption before it happens.
Although public trust in the judiciary remains low, mechanisms such as the Judiciary Inquiry Commission and the Grievance and Ethics Committee are in place. In 2024, two cases involving lawyers were investigated, though both were dismissed for lack of evidence. The judiciary has also launched a US$6 million, five-year technology reform plan to digitize court procedures and minimize human interference.
The Ministry of Education was praised for requiring public schools to open bank accounts, ensuring that fees paid by parents go directly into school accounts. This reform curbs financial mismanagement at the school level and enhances transparency.
CENTAL concluded that while some progress has been made, more is needed. Laws alone are not enough. What Liberia needs, the report stresses, is robust enforcement, active citizen participation, and unwavering political commitment to end corruption.
