By Vaye Abel Lepolu
MONROVIA– The Liberia National Police (LNP) remains the public institution most widely perceived as corrupt in Liberia despite an overall decline in public perception of corruption nationwide, according to the 2025 State of Corruption Report released by the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL).
The report, launched Wednesday during a national dialogue in Monrovia, revealed that 75 percent of respondents identified the police as the institution most affected by corruption, an increase from 71 percent recorded in the 2024 survey.
Healthcare ranked second among institutions perceived to be highly corrupt, with public concern rising from 46 percent in 2024 to 57 percent in 2025. The judiciary and the education sector were also cited as institutions where corruption continues to undermine public confidence and service delivery.
Despite these concerns, the report indicates that Liberians believe corruption is gradually declining. Fifty-nine percent of respondents rated corruption as high in 2025, compared to 83 percent in 2024, reflecting growing optimism about ongoing governance reforms and anti-corruption efforts.
The survey also found improved public confidence in the government’s commitment to tackling corruption. Twenty-seven percent of respondents rated the government’s anti-corruption efforts as high, up from 20 percent in 2024 and 12 percent in 2023. Meanwhile, the percentage of respondents who viewed the government’s commitment as poor dropped sharply from 48 percent to 25 percent.
Launching the report, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe praised CENTAL for producing an evidence-based assessment that contributes to policy development and accountability.
She said the report recognizes the progress made in strengthening Liberia’s anti-corruption institutions while highlighting areas requiring renewed attention. Cllr. Zoe reaffirmed the LACC’s commitment to impartial investigations, effective prosecution, corruption prevention, public education, and enforcement of the country’s asset declaration regime.
Representatives of the United Nations, the Swedish Embassy, the United States Embassy, lawmakers, and civil society organizations echoed calls for stronger collaboration in the fight against corruption, describing it as a major obstacle to democracy, human rights, economic growth, and national development.
Speaking at the event, UN representatives emphasized that corruption is not only a governance issue but also a human rights concern that deprives citizens of access to essential services and justice. They stressed that evidence-based reports such as CENTAL’s are vital for informing policy reforms and strengthening public institutions.
The Swedish Embassy reaffirmed its continued support for CENTAL’s anti-corruption initiatives, noting that corruption disproportionately affects the poor and weakens democratic governance. It encouraged all stakeholders to use the report’s findings to guide decision-making and reform efforts.
For his part, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson Miamen said the report serves as an important tool for government, civil society, the media, and development partners to assess the country’s anti-corruption progress, identify existing gaps, and formulate practical solutions.
CENTAL called on the Government of Liberia, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, the General Auditing Commission, the Financial Intelligence Agency, the Ministry of Justice, and other integrity institutions to strengthen enforcement, promote transparency, and accelerate reforms aimed at restoring public trust.
The 2025 State of Corruption Report was produced under CENTAL’s National Integrity Building and Anti-Corruption Program with financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The findings are based on nationwide surveys, desk reviews, media monitoring, key informant interviews, and field research involving 772 respondents across nine counties.
