Tracking Corruption Allegations

A look at the Corruption Case Tracker’s Role in the Fight against Corruption

By: Mark Boahndao

Before now, accessing information about allegations of corruption and their statuses in Liberia would require hours of surfing the internet. The need to have readily available, independent, up-to-date, and consolidated details about various corruption cases became blatant. The drawback presented by this dearth of data is that impunity flourished as persons accused of corruption moved around freely without actions taken against them. With accusations in Liberia rising and falling like ‘Coca-Cola’ bubbles, it became difficult for civil society and citizens to persist in demanding accountability for past allegations of corruption.  

Also, LACC and other agencies or departments could hardly be monitored and engaged regarding the slow pace of investigations or outcome of cases since information on particular cases eluded many.

To support ongoing national efforts to address this pressing issue, CENTAL developed the Corruption Case Tracker (CCT), under her National Integrity Building and Anti-Corruption Program, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The Corruption Case Tracker is a groundbreaking online platform designed to enhance transparency and accountability in the handling of corruption cases, in part through making information about their nature, scope, location, timeline, and other details available and accessible to the public.

Since its official launch on October 9, 2024 by Nikolina Stalhand, Program Officer at the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia, the Tracker has endeavored to address information gap about corruption by offering a transparent and accessible platform that provides real-time updates on corruption cases, ensuring accountability from relevant authorities and empowering Liberians, the media, civil society and other stakeholders to monitor and meaningfully engage with the process.

“As citizens gain easy access to information about corruption cases, they become more engaged in the process of justice. They can monitor the progress of cases that matter to them and advocate for timely resolutions”, said, Anderson D. Miamen, CENTAL’s Executive Director at the formal launch of the tracker in Monrovia.

The tracker, amongst many others, seeks to enhance transparency and foster increased engagement by providing the public and stakeholders with real-time access to case details and updates. By doing so, citizens are expected to increase demand for accountability by holding government agencies responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption cases. These efforts would lead to a strengthened collaboration among citizens, media, civil society, government agencies, and international organizations in addressing corruption in Liberia.

As timely investigations and resolutions of corruption cases are essential for maintaining public trust and ensuring that justice is served, the tracker is acting as a catalyst by highlighting cases that have been pending for extended periods and putting pressure on relevant authorities to expedite their investigation and conclusion.

By shining a light on delayed cases, the Tracker provides a platform where citizens are empowered to demand accountability from their leaders. They can see which cases have stagnated and question why. This public scrutiny would incentivize authorities to act more swiftly and efficiently, knowing that their actions are under constant watch by the public. In this way, the Tracker fosters a sense of urgency in addressing corruption issues, ultimately leading to a more transparent and accountable society.

With just a click on the link or a search in Google: https://cct.cental.org.lr, anyone can have their fill and experience this remarkable technological and web-based platform.

Moreover, the Tracker's user-friendly interface ensures that even those with limited technological literacy can access and understand the information. With just a few clicks, users can find detailed information about ongoing and concluded corruption cases, including the names of individuals involved, the nature of the allegations, and the current status of each case. This accessibility not only fosters a sense of empowerment among citizens but also encourages them to participate in the fight against corruption

Sweden was Never Wrong To Trust Us

There’s no denying that the civil war (1989-2003) affected the viability of state and non-state institutions. Civil society institutions emerging after the conflict were confronted by a poor economy, bad governance, and a deflated donor landscape.

It was this environment that CENTAL encountered and endured since its establishment in 2004. For the forebearers, a firm conviction that Liberia can be corruption-free is what was needed to keep the torch burning. Thus, limited availability of resources and threats and opposition from government could not dissuade them from pursuing an objective in the public interest. Lack of salaries for staff, inadequate staffing, limited office space, and inadequate logistics and funding for program interventions were amongst challenges that beset the organization.

In the years that followed, CENTAL began to earn the trust of different donors, including: the Open Society Initiative West Africa (OSIWA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the German International Cooperation Society (GIZ). With resources at its disposal, the organization began to rollout interventions in sectors such as natural resources and education while remaining robust in its advocacy for anti-corruption reforms.

While earlier partnerships with donors propelled CENTAL to great heights of impact, these fell short of addressing capacity and sustainability challenges of the organization. Attention was mostly placed on project activities and related outcomes with very little consideration on institutional capacity or the life of the organization beyond a given project period. For instance, a proje5ct lasted for a year on average and, in many cases, did not undertake to pay other staff essential to the project and the smooth running of the organization. Donors preferred vehicle rental to vehicle purchase, even in cases were amount for rental could clearly purchase a vehicle. Administrative costs indirectly related to the projects could hardly come by to support institutional sustainability.

By 2017, however, CENTAL would become exposed to what would later be revealed as a ‘life-changing’ encounter. The Embassy of Sweden approached CENTAL over the possibility of holding activities in commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD). Without hesitation and with support from the Embassy of Sweden, CENTAL organized activities celebrating IACD for three successive years. Then in August 2020, a partnership agreement was finally executed between CENTAL and the Embassy of Sweden with focus not only on the fight against corruption but enhancing the viability and contribution to the sustainability of CENTAL.

Since 2020, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) and the government and people of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) have enjoyed a healthy and rewarding marriage which has significantly addressed challenges facing the organization.

The initial 15 million SEK (US$1.8 million) agreement was indeed pivotal in supporting the implementation of a National Integrity Building and Anti-Corruption Program (NIBA) with objectives including Increasing Citizens’ Access to Relevant Information and Mechanisms, increasing advocacy efforts and CENTAL’s capacity to independently monitor and advocate Against Corruption in Liberia by December 2023.

As the tenure of the agreement elapsed in December 2023, discussions for the commencement of a second phase of the program were already well advanced.  In February 2024, CENTAL represented by Executive Director, Anderson D. Miamen and Swedish Ambassador to Liberia Urban Sjostrom put pen to paper to consummate the agreement for a new three years program January 2024 to December 2026. The support from Sweden represents the biggest single donor support so far to CENTAL’s quest to tackle the corruption scourge since its founding in 2004, and arguably, the largest donor support to a local Civil Society Organization (CSO). 

On one hand, it has enabled us to sustain partnerships with community-based organizations through a Joint Civil Society Anti-Corruption Initiative (JOSCAI) which has rallied citizens to petition members of the Legislature for the passage and amendments of anti-corruption bills.  On the other hand, our Advocacy and Legal Advice Center (ALAC), has been positioned as a foremost platform for citizens to report and seek redress to corruption and get free legal advice for other pertinent issues affecting them.

Also, it has given impetus to our efforts to increase transparency and inclusivity among citizens and local county officials in the governance and management of County Social Development Funds (CSDF) through our Open Expenditure Initiative (OEI).

In a nutshell, the support from Sweden has not only strengthened the capacity of CENTAL in support of its vision of a corruption-free Liberia but it has positioned the organization as one of the leading voices in promoting accountability and integrity in Liberia. 

This demonstration of trust and confidence on the part of Sweden has further opened the doors for much more support from other donors many of whom have come knocking. Because of the confidence reposed by Sweden, there has been an avalanche of new support from almost every nook and cranny of the donor community including UN Women, UNDP, IRISH Aid, and USAID amongst others.

This support from Sweden coupled with the results achieved so far in our quest to build a Liberia where good governance, a culture of accountability, and transparency remain the hallmark of governance point to one conclusion, ‘Sweden Was Never Wrong to Trust’.

To the government and people of Sweden, we raise our heads; lift up our right hand to a salute for the continuous support to not just the works of CENTAL but the tons of other local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Liberia you are supporting to stay engaged and afloat.

Harvesting the Outcomes

CENTAL’s NIBA Program Phase Two Scores Success in Ending the Corruption Conundrum

By: Edward W. Blamo and Gerald D. Yeakula

Liberia’s quest to end corruption is gaining steam, not just from the increased level of awareness about the existence of the menace but the wave of innovative approaches which are contributing to curbing the corruption scourge. And without any doubt, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has contributed and continues to play its part in changing the narrative. Through its National Integrity Building and Anti-corruption Program (NIBA) funded by the government and people of Sweden, a horde of approaches which have already been implemented are yielding positive outcomes.

These initiatives include the Advocacy and Legal Advice Center (ALAC), an independent platform that allows citizens to report corruption;  National Integrity Forum (NIF), a collaborative effort with government anti-graft institutions that promotes transparency in service delivery; Joint Civil Society and Anti-corruption Initiative, (JOSCAI), a conglomeration of community-based organizations working to tackle corruption; Youth Engagement Program - Integrity Club (IClub),  an initiative that works with students to become anti-corruption ambassadors; Open Expenditure Initiative (OEI), a program that promotes transparency and inclusivity in the expenditure of county social development fund;, media and visibility, amongst others.

Several positive outcomes have already been achieved so far. For example, an allegation of corruption reported to our Advocacy and Legal Advice Center (ALAC) in 2022 has been adjudicated and a guilty verdict rendered in 2024 by Criminal Court “C” Judge Kennedy Peabody. The matter was centered around the mismanagement of funds in the tone of $96, 875.00 involving several former and current officials of the Planned Parenthood Association of Liberia (PPAL) including Madam Miatta K.K. Cojolo, former Executive Director, Ernree Bee Neeplo, former Program Manager, Ernest Vobah, former Finance and Administrative Manager, William Gibson, former Human Resource Manager, and Peter Collins, Board Vice Chairman.

These experiences have spurred us to work to build capacity of those public offices with a view to getting them to comply with relevant anti-corruption laws. “The training on anti-corruption laws has been rewarding for us especially so that we are new council”, said J. Aaron Sackie Fenlah, Chairman, Bong County Council of the capacity building session organized for members as part of CENTAL’s Open Expenditure Initiative (OEI). Another leg of capacity-building support was provided to local authorities including the Superintendent and other officials of Grand Cape Mount County on corruption prevention strategies, the management team of the Liberia Water and Sewer Cooperation (LWSC), the leadership of the Liberia National Police (LNP), amongst others.

On the other hand, the sum of US$2000 of the Gbarpolu County Disabled Community Development fund which was said to have been mismanagement by Sunny M. Winnie, former chair of the disabled community was ordered refunded. This follows CENTAL’s County Field Officer consistent highlight of the incident.

Also, the program has worked to entrench the culture of transparency and accountability within public service delivery through the conduct of a varied of anti-corruption and capacity building trainings for public sector officials, media, and other actors.

From honing the skills of senior managers of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) in the deployment of best practices to curb corruption to the training of County council members on accountability strategies for improved service delivery, the different capacity-building supports have strengthened public institutions' capacities to provide improved services.

Due to the significant role, the media plays in holding public officials to account, separate training sessions were conducted for journalists assigned at the national legislature, the Executive Mansion, and the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), including those regularly honoring CENTAL’s press conference invitations, on anti-corruption laws and accountability strategies.

One groundbreaking outcome of the program so far is the launch of the Corruption Case Tracker, an online repository of everything corruption including allegations, cases, and their statuses amongst others. The tracker, a feature of CENTAL’s website is being achieved through a close collaboration with stakeholders including the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), General Auditing Commission (GAC), and others.

As an army of young people against corruption, the Integrity Club Outreach Program (ICLUB) is active in four universities –United Methodist University (UMU), University of Liberia (UL), Stella Maries Polytechnic University (SMPU), and the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) has accelerated outreach activities with students at the forefront. Also, members of the ICLUB have conducted a ‘corruption risk assessment’ initiative to examine the risks and danger of corruption within schools as part of an effort to help curb the pervasive nature of the menace. Augustina Appleton, Vice President of the Integrity club chapter, University of Liberia who joined in 2021 said the education gained from involvement with IClub activities has led to an improved engagement with the local community leadership. “Through the IClub, I am currently serving as the secretary for my community. Additionally, my community has asked me to run for public relations officer position during the next election. This is all happening due to my involvement with the integrity club.”

These activities are contributing to the overall vision to ensure that promoting accountability and increasing citizens' demand for accountability are placed at the front and center of national discourses in Liberia.

Despite these efforts, fighting corruption in Liberia still remains somehow cumbersome. When one is indicted for any act of corruption and the matter is not finalized within five years, he or she is deemed free of all charges and could parade the streets of Monrovia with a head lifted high and chest popped up- thanks to a statute of limitation clause in the panel law of Liberia. This scenario is just one of several legal and political roadblocks that need to be cleared to end the pervasive nature of corruption which has wreaked havoc on the livelihoods of citizens. 

Already, successive global anti-corruption ratings have been dismal. For example, the 2023 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released by Transparency International gives a 25 out of 100 score, a huge decline from 32 scored in 2018.  All of these have signaled the need for concerted efforts from diverse actors including government, civil society, media, and citizens, to change course.

Press Statement for Immediate Release

CENTAL Wants Greater Political Will from President Boakai in the Fight Against Corruption, Calls Full Implementation of Recommendations in Ombudsman Corruption Allegation Probe

Monrovia, Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, lately, there have been various allegations of corruption involving individuals and institutions at the core of Liberia’s anti-corruption and good governance efforts. These developments are highly concerning, especially so that the persons involved play key roles in the country’s anti-corruption efforts and the management of critical institutions of government.

• Investigative Report into Allegation of Corruption and Violation of the Code of Conduct by Cllr. Finely Y. Karngar, then Chairman of the Ombudsman

Recently, based on a publicly-available detailed investigation conducted that recommended his dismissal and criminal investigation, Cllr. Finley Y. Karngar, Chairperson of the Office of the Ombudsman reportedly engaged in acts of corruption by soliciting 30-35 USD worth of scratch cards and 50 percent (500 USD) of his Special Assistant, Francis K. D. Cooper’s salary for the period of four months (April to July 2025), which amounted to Two Thousand United States Dollars (US$2,000). The Ombudsman is the primary institution responsible to promote ethical behaviors/conducts in government as well as enforce overall compliance with the amended 2022 National Code of Conduct for Public Officials. It is worth noting that this is the second major allegation of corruption involving Cllr. Karngar, who reports emerged in late 2025 that he was allegedly involved with the receipt of kickbacks from the owner of the rented property the Ombudsman occupies. These alleged acts, couple with reports of non-cooperation and undermining of the latest investigation, contravene the very Code of Code he was appointed and mandated to enforce, by ensuring that public officials and others who occupy key positions in government are ethical and exhibit integrity in their dealings.

Notably, few days following the release of the investigative report, Cllr. Karngar resigned as chairperson of the Office of Ombudsman. In a press release dated March 10, 2026, President Boakai accepted the resignation and appreciated Cllr. Karngar for his “dedication and commitment to public service; his contributions to the work of the Office of the Ombudsman in promoting ethical standards in public service; and wished him well in his future endeavours”.

However, the president’s office failed to acknowledge the findings and recommendations of the investigative report that accused, with evidence, Chairman Cllr. Karngar of extorting 2,130 USD from his special assistant for payments to various persons of his interest.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, given the coincidence of the release of the investigative report and the resignation of Cllr. Karngar from government, it can be reasonably inferred that the latest allegation of corruption played a significant part, if not entirely responsible for the decision.  This is a win for the fight against corruption and efforts to mainstream accountability and integrity in public service. However, we disagree with the decision of the president to merely accept his resignation, without acknowledging the courageous decision of the investigative team and the affected employee who reported the matter, following his illegal dismissal by the Chairman.  To send a stronger message of relative political will and commitment to a robust fight against corruption, we strongly believe that President Boakai should have referenced the investigative report, hailed the producers, as well as dismissed Cllr. Karngar, instead of allowing him to voluntarily resign.

CENTAL holds the view that when an individual bearing public trust to lead efforts to enforce the code of conduct for public officials is himself accused of breaching the very code he is charged to enforce, it has the proclivity to undermine efforts to tackle corruption and reduce public confidence in anti-corruption institutions.  Therefore, we are extremely disappointed in Cllr. Karngar’s alleged action and the president’s stance on the matter, which constitutes an attempt to somehow turn a blind eye on the gravity of the allegations levied and investigated. We call for full and timely implementation of the investigative report, which recommended dismissal and other sanctions, including restitution and criminal investigation and possible prosecution. We call on the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to take siege of the matter, conduct a full-scale investigation, and update the public on the status of said investigation as well as any subsequent actions to hold the accused full accountable.

• Corruption Allegation Involving Mr. Ernest Hughes, former Vice Chairperson of LACC and now Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, recent reports also had it that Mr. Ernest Hughes, Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) and former executive vice chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) stands accused of soliciting 15 percent kick-backs from a Canadian Aviation Navigation Contractor as a condition to approve about USD 1 Million payment for services at the Robert International Airport (RIA). According to media reports, the Board of Directors of LAA reviewed the allegation and decided to suspend Mr. Hughes as well as forward him to the Ministry of Justice for investigation. However, prior to implementation of the Board’s decision, Mr. Hughes requested for a leave of absence, stating that his decision was intended to “allow the investigation to proceed without any perception of interference and reaffirming his willingness to fully cooperate with the process”.

In a response, the Executive Mansion accepted the request for leave of absence and instructed the Ministry of Justice to conduct a full-scale investigation into the matter, before march 30, 2026. Whilst we await the outcome of the investigation being conducted by the Ministry of Justice, we take keen note of the difference in trends by the executive mansion in the handling of corruption allegations. We note with reservations that the president seems to be picking and choosing in dealing with allegations of corruption by immediately suspending and forwarding some accused persons for investigation, while merely pressuring others to resign and hailing them for their services, without any form of investigation and prosecution. This is concerning, for it presents an indication of limited political will to decisively deal with all corruption allegations, no matter who is involved. We recognize the fact the all corruption cases may not be of the same gravity and magnitude. However, when a board reviews a matter and deems an allegation to be weighty, such as in the case of Mr. Hughes, the accused should be suspended by the appointing authority and not be allowed to voluntarily request for a leave of absence, especially the former vice chairperson of the anti-corruption commission involved herein. Allegedly soliciting a 15 percent bribe to approve a 1 Million USD Payment to a contractor is so grave of an allegation for the president not to have suspended the accused, especially following some inquiry by the Board and a request for a detailed investigation by the Ministry of Justice.

Hence, we call on the government of Liberia and President Joseph N. Boakai to adopt a uniform approach in dealing with allegations of corruption and other malpractices. This goes to say, actions taken against individuals accused of corruption, including suspension and or dismissal, should be replicated and applicable to all and sundry, especially where the evidence and circumstances so dictate, in the cases of Cllr. Karngar and Mr. Hughes who occupied strategic positions and played in the country’s anti-corruption and accountability efforts.  

In conclusion, CENTAL reiterates its commitment to the fight against corruption and supports national government’s efforts in satisfactorily dealing with corruption and other related offenses in the country. We admonish all public officials, especially those who are serving or once served in integrity institutions to set very high standards and lead by example in all of their dealings, to avoid undermining public confidence in the work of integrity institutions. Also, we call on the president to be more robust in handling corruption and other related matters, ensuring that persons accused are not treated differently, especially where the nature and circumstances require similar actions, including, but not limited to dismissal, suspension, prosecution, and other lawful decisive efforts. 

Thank you.

Signed:

Anderson Miamen,

0886818855/0776391481

Press Statement for Immediate Release

Liberia Makes Marginal Progress in 2025 CPI Report: Moves 1 Point Up the Ladder, Highlighting Need for Drastic Reforms to Significantly Improve Performance

Monrovia, Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) is pleased to release findings from the 31^st edition of Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2025, with a focus on how corruption is undermining global, regional, and national democracies. Since 1995, the Corruption Perception Index scores and ranks countries and regions based on how corrupt their public sectors are perceived. The score ranges from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), where 0 equals the highest level of perceived public sector corruption and 100 equals lowest level of perceived public sector corruption, according to experts and business executives. In 2025, 182 Countries were targeted.

The CPI draws upon 13 credible data sources, which capture the assessment of experts and business executives on a number of corrupt behaviors in the public sector. These corrupt practices and behaviors include bribery, diversion of public funds and supplies, use of public office for private gain, procurement irregularities, state capture, and nepotism in the civil service. Also, some of the sources assess mechanisms available to prevent and address corruption in a country. Examples include government’s ability to enforce integrity mechanisms; financial, logistical, and moral support to anti-graft institutions; independence and viability of anti-graft institutions; the effective prosecution of corrupt officials and others accused of corruption; conflict of interest prevention; access to information; freedom of speech and the media; and legal protection for human rights defenders and anti-corruption campaigners, whistleblowers, witnesses, journalists, and investigators.

Liberia’s Score and Performance:

In the previous report, Liberia scored 27/100, which at the time represented a two-point improvement. In the latest report, Liberia is now ranked 136/182 among countries covered by CPI 2025, with a score of 28/100. This goes to say, for the second time in 2 years, Liberia moved 1 point up the CPI ladder, from a score of 27 in 2024 to 28 in 2025. Despite the fact that this latest ranking shows marginal progress in the new administration’s anti-corruption efforts, government needs to do more, as the country has maintained its status as one of the biggest global decliners since 2012, dropping by 13 points (9 points under former president Sirleaf and 7 points under the George Weah’s administration).

Despite the marginal progress, CENTAL is deeply concerned over Liberia’s consistent overall poor performance, especially her place among the world’s Worst Decliners. We acknowledge this year’s 1-point increase under the Boakai-Koung led government, which builds upon the 2-point increment in 2024; it shows marginal progress. However, we caution against any form of complacency, as immunity for corruption still remains high, public integrity institutions are still underfunded, the impact of the asset declaration process still unconvincing, and several sanctioned former officials and others who acquired illicit wealth yet to be fully investigated and prosecuted. More so, the recent arbitrary appointment at the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, contrary to the required transparent, inclusive and competitive process, somehow undermines the rule of law.

Regional Highlights and Trends:

On the regional front, the report found that Saharan Africa’s systemic corruption is severely undermining democracy, the civic space, press freedom and other accountability efforts. The Sub-Saharan Africa average is 32, the lowest in the world. The highest-scoring countries in the region are Seychelles (68), Cabo Verde (62), Botswana (58) and Rwanda (57). Notable improvements include, Cote d’Ivoire (43), Seychelles (72), and Tanzania (40). The sharpest declines were seen in Lesotho (37), Eswatini (27), and Liberia (both 28) which has fallen 13 points since 2012.

Global Highlights:

The CPI ranks 182 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The global average score stands at 42 out of 100, its lowest level in more than a decade, pointing to a concerning downward trend that will need to be monitored over time. The highest scoring region is Western Europe and the European Union with an average score of 64. The lowest scoring region is Sub-Saharan Africa with an average of 32.  The 32-average score of Sub-Saharan Africa shows unending worrisome picture of inaction against corruption in the region, as governments are doing very little to safeguard democracy and match their fine promises with tangible actions to end the culture of impunity for corruption and bad governance.

The vast majority of countries are failing to keep corruption under control: more than two-thirds – 122 out of 180 – score under 50. For the eighth year in a row, Denmark obtains the highest score on the index (89) and is closely followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84). Countries with the lowest scores overwhelmingly have severely repressed civil societies and high levels instability like South Sudan (9), Somalia (9) and Venezuela (10).

Since 2012, 50 countries have seen their scores significantly decline in the index: those who dropped the most include Türkiye (31), Hungary (40) and Nicaragua (14).  Meanwhile, the biggest improvers were Estonia (76), South Korea (63) and Seychelles (68).

Although no country is free of corruption, countries topping the CPI have full democracies and share characteristics of open government, press freedom, strong parliament/legislature, civil liberties, and independent judiciary. Meanwhile, countries at the bottom are characterized by widespread impunity for corruption; poor governance; weak parliament and oversight bodies, poorly-supported and underperforming anti-graft institutions, among others.

Recommendations:

The Marginal progress is noted, but more decisive actions are needed to realize significant improvement on the CPI and other key governance indicators. The 1-point increment in 2025, compared to 2-point increment in 2024 give an indication that President Boakai reduced his anti-corruption speed, instead of accelerating and being revolutionary to achieve greater impacts.

Government must be intentional about ending impunity for corruption and improving governance by ensuring greater oversight and accountability of state-owned enterprises; evidence-based allocation and transparent use of the national budget and other public resources; establishment of the specialized anti-corruption court; adequately financing and demanding improved performance from anti-graft institutions; addressing corruption and other abuses in the judiciary; strengthening legislative accountability and oversight;  ensuring greater transparency and meaningfully civil society and citizens’ participation in government’s decisions.

Finally, we applaud individual citizens, journalists, activists and other groups and individuals who have been vocal against corruption and bad governance in Liberia, especially over the last two years. We encourage more demands for transparency and accountability from Government, especially from President Joseph N. Boakai, Speaker Richard N. Koon, Senate Pro-Tempt Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence, and Chief Justice Yamie Q. Gbeisay ho have with the greatest collective responsibility to shape the country anti-corruption efforts in the right direction.

Signed:

Anderson Miamen,

0886818855/0776391481

CENTAL Heightens Awareness to Improve Transparency in Service Delivery in Margibi, Bong, and Grand Bassa Counties

Even though there exist County Service Centers (CSC) across Liberia to increase access to critical services like the acquisition of birth and marriage certificates, among others, many locals are rarely aware of their existence, leading to low access rates. It was against this backdrop that the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), as part of its Strengthening Political Governance and Accountability in Liberia Project funded by the Embassy of Ireland in Liberia, conducted a series of engagements with community dwellers and stakeholders in Margibi, Bong, and Grand Bassa Counties.

The project is being implemented by a consortium of three civil society organizations—the Center for Democratic Governance (CDG), Naymote Liberia, and the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL)—with a focus on improving public service delivery, local governance, democracy, and accountability in the sectors of health and education.

The engagements, which occurred from 18^th to 23^rd January 2026, were, amongst many others, intended to promote transparency in local service delivery and support national anti-corruption efforts by increasing education around ways to access services and platforms available to report corruption.

Throughout the engagements, the different stakeholders expressed the need for continuous engagement to foster accountability and transparency in local service delivery, inclusion, and governance. Also, the need for continued national efforts to support local governance was reemphasized.  

“We are grateful to you for the partnership and efforts in the promotion of local service delivery, inclusion, and governance. Through continued collaboration and engagements, the narratives will change,” said Clinton Sayleh, Coordinator, Grand Bassa County Service Center.

For his part, Arthur Crawford, Coordinator of the Bong County Service Center, acknowledged the continued engagements through capacity-building training, community outreach, material support (suggestion boxes and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials), and encouraged staff members of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, National Identification Registry, Ministry of Transport, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Center for National Documents and Records Agency, and other Ministry, Agency and Commissions (MACs) to be more proactive in service delivery and local governance.

During the engagements, members of the county councils, including the coordinators of the service centers, were encouraged to share their work plans and confronted on ways of possible collaboration to promote local service delivery and support local governance efforts.

“While we continue to appreciate the different partnerships for the continued support of local governance, we should not be complacent in engaging citizens about the promotion of local governance and inclusion,” Nancy T. Bryant, Chairperson of the Grand Bassa County Council, stated.

These engagements were not unique to the coordinators and staff of the service centers and county council members, it also triggered down to local community dwellers. These outreach engagements gathered at least fifty (50) participants during each engagement. Participants, including youth, women, men, religious leaders, and persons with disabilities, gathered in palava huts and open spaces to listen and participate in issues of education, health, service delivery, and anti-corruption.

Based on the different testimonies gathered from the community dwellers, the team committed to increasing advocacy for improvement in service delivery and highlighted its support to education and health as a priority for the remote communities.

Torwon F. Gensee, CENTAL’s Project Coordinator, expressed concerns over the quality of services in the education sector, especially in rural areas.

Challenges and recommendations emanating from these engagements were welcoming, as the team prepares to proactively engage stakeholders and citizens on improving service delivery, local governance, and anti-corruption efforts through collaboration and advocacy.

Press Release

CENTAL Lauds GoL’s Ongoing Anti-corruption Reform Efforts, But Calls for Increased Actions to Achieve Greater Positive Results

Monrovia, Wednesday, January 28, 2026 -  Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, welcome to our office. Thank you for being a great partner in our shared desire to promote good governance and the culture of transparency and accountability in Liberia. On Monday, January 26, 2026, members of the Legislature convened as President Joseph N. Boakai delivered his third State of the Nation Address. Citizens and foreigners alike listened attentively to the address, eager to grasp the progress made to date as well as the challenges confronting the country’s forward march. For us in the governance and anti-corruption space, we were keen on the state of corruption and overall governance and are glad that those areas were reflected.

In his address, the Liberian leader recounted efforts made to promote the culture of transparency and strengthen the fight against corruption. Of notable mention was a requirement for heads of institutions to sign performance contracts and comply with clearly-defined standards as part of a newly-established Performance Management and Compliance System. In relation to efforts made in addressing the culture of impunity for corruption, the Liberian leader announced that the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission (LACC) secured 11 indictments, obtained two convictions, and had one acquittal. These, he said, were in addition to four ongoing prosecutions, suspension and dismissal of officials involved in misconduct and the strengthening of asset declaration rules, amongst others.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, CENTAL welcomes the many positive interventions made by the Boakai administration in addressing the menace of corruption, including the announcement that the General Auditing Commission (GAC) completed 94 of 105 audits, with specific focus on the Domestic Debt Audit from 2018 to 2023, which rejected over US$704 million in unsupported claims; compliance with GAC’s audit recommendations rising from 13 percent in 2024 to 37 percent in 2025; and a near-complete system audit of the House of Representatives covering the period 2021 through 2024. CENTAL notes further that these interventions, including efforts by the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) to expand electronic procurement system to over 50 public entities, reflect progress made in the fight against corruption (though marginal).

While we acknowledge these initial positives in a collective desire to tackle corruption, we wish to stress the many lingering gaps and the need for increased political will and actions to attaining greater positive outcomes.

For example, the government is yet to establish the specialized anti-corruption court to help timely adjudicate corruption cases and hold corrupt persons accountable as well as remove the five-year statute of limitation affecting the prosecution of corruption cases, and the slow pace of the recovery of stolen financial and non-financial assets.   We would like to see timely establishment of the specialized anti-corruption corrupt, removal of the statute of limitation on corruption cases, and the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (ARPRT) living up to its true mandate by recovering in-country and oversea-based stolen government assets, including funds and real and personal properties. We acknowledge the legal challenge that somehow affected the work of the Task Force, following its constitution. However, more than one year of full operation is substantial period to make significant impacts, in the wake of multiple targeted sanctions by the United States Government of several former government officials for significant corruption, coupled with several GAC audit reports that implicated several individuals for corruption and other financial abuses. We wish to see a more robust, well-financed and an independent Asset Recovery Task Force that collaborates with key actors to achieve key results and make fraud in government and illicit-wealth accumulation issues of the past in Liberia.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, even as we applaud the pace of completion of financial and other audits, we have witnessed an unconvincing approach by government actors, especially the Public Account Committees of the Legislature, to expeditiously review and hold those implicated fully accountable. When you have findings from critical audits stockpiled on the desk of members of the legislature and the president without the required actions, it affects accountability of those implicated and also renders inconsequential the efforts of the GAC. Such vital accountability framework must work and produce for the Liberia, as the trend of key donors’ withdrawal of support presents a more compelling need for Liberia to judiciously allocate and expend its domestic resources. Also, review and oversight processes of the legislature must be robust, transparent and inclusive, ensuring that there is active and meaningful stakeholders’ participation in their activities, including the review of Concession Agreements, deliberations on vital bills and other processes that border on citizens’ interest.

In the same vein, we are deeply concerned about the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission’s (LACC) inability to release an asset verification report, more than two years after several officials of government declared assets, incomes and liabilities with the Commission, in line with the country’s asset declaration regime. From what we see so far, the LACC is still heavy on demanding declaration rather than verifying those assets already declared to identify fraud or discrepancies and hold people accountable.   This is not the true intent of the asset declaration process, whereby LACC cannot produce a single publicly available verification report on exit declarations of officials of the Weah-led administration as well as those of the current regime. We strongly encourage LACC to do the needful, as Liberians more interested in the outcomes of the asset declaration process, rather mere reporting on the number of declarants/compliant officials.

In conclusion, we would like to highlight that success in the fight against corruption is mostly measured by tangible outcomes deriving from interventions and not mere initiation of those processes themselves. Civil society will remain constructively engaged with government, independently monitor budget implementation and other processes and hold state institutions fully accountable to produce tangible results for the public. Meanwhile, we wish to reiterate that Liberians deserve greater transparency and accountability from their government and more impactful development and other productive activities that match the enormous resources of the country. To this end, we strongly urge the Liberia Anti-corruption Commission, Internal Audit Agency and other anti-graft bodies to show more concrete impacts from their activities. While civil society, media and citizens push government for more resources to these integrity institutions, they have to live up to expectation by exceptionally delivering and showing impacts for their current budgetary and other support. More so, the President, Legislature and the Judiciary must better coordinate and ensure that the country’s anti-corruption and integrity building efforts are more independent, robust, citizens’ driven, and impactful in delivering the needed dividends for the people.

Thanks.

Signed:

The Management.

Press Statement for Immediate Release

CENTAL Launches Research Report on County Social Development Fund (CSDF) Projects in Six Counties

--Study Reveals Both Progress and Weaknesses in CSDF Implementation

Monrovia, Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, welcome to our office. Thank you for being a great partner in our collective quest to promote good governance and the culture of integrity in Liberia. 

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, for years, counties have had access to County Social Development Funds (CSDF). The CSDF comprises payments by concession companies for the benefit of counties in which they operate (i.e. social development funds) and budgetary allocations by national government intended to spur local development (i.e. county development funds). This financing module has been a consequential pillar upon which people living in communities deprived of schools, medical facilitates and other infrastructures reap the benefits of their natural endowment or resources.

As you may be aware, with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), through the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia, CENTAL is implementing the National Integrity Building and Anti-Corruption Program in Monteserrado, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Bomi, Gbarpolu, Bong, and Nimba Counties. A key activity of the program is the Open Expenditure Initiative (OEI), through which we conduct budget forums; monitor infrastructure and other projects; assess the inclusiveness and transparency of decision-making around project selection, award, and implementation; and the overall impacts of the funds on citizens, including women, youths, and persons with special needs. Also, we track associated challenges, disbursement patterns of projects funds, citizens’ access to expenditure and other essential information and advocate for improved and inclusive management of the funds.

Over the years, these engagements have identified successes, but at the same time uncovered several inadequacies with the appropriation, disbursement and implementation of the CSDF projects.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, CENTAL is pleased to release key findings of its 2025 Research Report on the CSDF titled: “Open Expenditure: Examining CSDF Projects In Six Counties.” projects funded through the County Social Development Funds. The research was conducted in June 2025, through field visits in six counties - Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa, Bomi, Rivercess, and Gbarpolu Counties where the team assessed overall effectiveness of the CSDF. The research team visited over thirty (30) project sites, including schools, hospitals, markets, bridges, and administrative buildings; conducted interviews with county authorities; and consulted community representatives.

Amongst others, the research revealed both visible progress and persistent challenges in the management of CSDF projects. In alignment with relevant priorities of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, Citizens acknowledged the construction of new schools, renovation of town halls, and improvement in health facilities. However, they raised concerns about incomplete works, slow implementation, and limited inclusion of vulnerable groups and voices. Findings show that Communities were largely excluded from decision-making, having limited access to information on disbursements, which affects their ability to track project implementation and demand accountability, where necessary.  The report also found that CSDF funding were applied toward administrative buildings, government facilities, and other administrative operations rather than community-centered development.

 Highlight of key findings:

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, CENTAL is pleased to present a snippet of key findings including inadequacies contained in the research;

• Centralization of Local Development- Despite its goal of promoting local development, CSDF implementation remains highly centralized, with much of the funding spent on government infrastructure in county capitals. This limits benefits to rural communities, a trend particularly evident in Grand Bassa, Nimba, and Bong Counties, where communities receive little direct impact from CSDF projects.

• Contract Management and Scope Control- The Jawajeh Town Hall project in Bomi County highlights weak contract management, where unauthorized contract changes increased costs and left the project incomplete for years.

• Contractor Oversight and Child Protection Compliance – In Gbarnga, Bong County, children were observed working at a school construction site, violating the Children’s Law of 2011 and exposing weak contractor oversight, until county authorities intervened. In contrast, the completed Fenlah Town Hall in Bong County shows how effective oversight fosters community pride and ownership.

• Value for Money and Prioritization- Across the six counties, CSDF funds were spread across many sectors, weakening impact and leaving projects under-resourced. In Nimba County, a completed youth center in Bunadin lacked basic amenities, illustrating how infrastructure without operational support limits actual and long-term benefits.

• Inclusion of Persons with Disability- Most CSDF-funded facilities lacked accessibility features, limiting benefits for persons with disabilities despite engineers’ assurances. In Nimba County, disability advocates welcomed limited support but stressed that true inclusion remains absent from project design and implementation.

• County Councils and County Administrations Capacity and Relations- Relations between County Councils and administrations were generally cordial in most counties, though tensions emerged in Rivercess due to resource constraints. Across all six counties, councils face serious capacity gaps, including unfilled support offices, lack of stipends, and limited logistics, weakening their ability to effectively oversee CSDF projects.

• Procurement Controls- Procurement and payment practices under the CSDF varied considerably across the counties, reflecting uneven systems of oversight and accountability. Some counties reported stricter approval processes and phased payment arrangements designed to prevent project abandonment and improve value for money. Others, however, faced severe funding constraints and uncertainty, relying on anticipated concession revenues that had not yet been transparently disclosed.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, based on the findings gathered, the research recommends the following:  

• Rather than spreading resources thin, counties should prioritize fewer, high-impact projects that can be fully completed and functional, linking construction with necessary operational support. Accessibility features must be mandatory in all CSDF projects and integrated from the design stage, with inputs from disability organizations to ensure inclusion.

• County Councils need stronger institutional support, including staff, stipends, and logistics, to fulfill their mandate under the Local Government Act of 2018. Partnering with professional bodies and capacity development institutions can build technical capacity and improve CSDF planning, monitoring, and accountability.

• Ministry of Finance and Development Planning should prioritize timely release of CSDF allocations and concession contributions. Counties should continue using payment control mechanisms, such as partial disbursement linked to work completion, but these must be balanced with predictable schedules to maintain momentum and prevent unnecessary delays.
• Structured county-level monitoring mechanisms should be institutionalized, with active involvement of County Councils, civil society, and community representatives, including women and youth. This will ensure oversight is regular, participatory, and independent of external actors.

• Finally, stronger cooperation is needed between the Ministry of Internal Affairs, County Administrations, County Councils, and civil society actors such as CENTAL. Regular dialogues and joint planning will help align priorities, address bottlenecks, and sustain accountability.

The full report can be accessed on our website: www.cental.org.lr and our social media pages using our full name: Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia

Thanks.

Signed:

The Management.

                                                                       Press  Release

CENTAL, WONGOSOL, Present Findings of a Research on Local Governance and Service Delivery in Liberia

Monrovia, December 12, 2025, – The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) in partnership with the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), with support from the UN Women Liberia on Friday, December 5, 2025, presented findings of a research report on assessing local governance and service delivery in Liberia.

The research, conducted in four (4) counties in November 2025, offers a comprehensive analysis of citizens’ perceptions of local governance, service delivery, and participatory development in Liberia. The report, amongst others, seeks to shape policy discussions, and mobilize collective efforts for governance reform and accountability, in line with the government of Liberia’s national development agenda –the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and UN Women’s priority of promoting inclusive, transparent, and gender-responsive governance.

In his remarks during official launch of the report in Monrovia, Hon. Emmanuel Wheinyue, Assistant Minister for Research and Development Planning at the Ministry of Local Government, formerly the Ministry of Internal Affairs, described the report as a critical tool for increased policy intervention to improving service delivery across Liberia. On behalf of the ministry, he committed to use findings of the report as tools for policy intervention aimed at promoting inclusive, accountable, and impactful public service delivery, especially at the local level.

Conducted in November 2025 through a structured Kobo Collect questionnaire administered by trained volunteers and researchers, the research engaged 385 respondents, comprising 183 females (or 48 percent) and 202 males (or 52 percent), across diverse demographic and social categories. A majority of respondents, 54 percent, were youth under the age of 35, with private citizens, youth groups, and women’s groups forming the largest categories.

Presenting a summary of the report findings, CENTAL’s Project Lead, C. Rogget Chea, highlighted a persistent gap between the promise of decentralization and the lived experiences of citizens. He revealed that governance structures such as County Councils and County Service Centers are recognized, but remain constrained by limited transparency, weak responsiveness, limited financing, and inadequate inclusion of marginalized groups and voices.

 However, he emphasized that increased evidence-based advocacy and capacity building for citizens and the presence of the media, civil society, and community-based organizations provide a foundation for building more inclusive and accountable governance and improved service delivery in Liberia. UN Women Liberia Program Officer, Leeneh Y. Kiamu, highlighted the need for increased collaborative efforts towards the promotion of decentralization, transparency, responsiveness and the involvement of women groups and persons with disabilities.  

The report highlighted challenges confronting the County Service Centers, as 25% of respondents rated their services as transparent, and over a quarter considered them effective. Also, women, youth, and persons with disabilities were consistently rated as having moderate to very low involvement in decision-making processes. Additionally, 69% of respondents rated advocacy and capacity efforts as strong or very strong, with more than half of respondents admitting to have attended meetings organized by civil society organizations. Awareness of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) was reported to be extensive at 87%, while confidence in advocacy effectiveness was mixed.

The report recommends more capacity building efforts for citizens, civil society, media and other groups on gender, decentralization, and good governance; increased sensitization and evidence-based advocacy by civil society and community based organizations; the provision of support and mentorship for women, youths, and persons with disabilities to participate in local governance and hold their leaders accountable; stronger government-cso partnership in supporting decentralization and other efforts; and adequate financing of County Councils, County Service Centers and other decentralized structures to improve accountability and public service delivery.

The research was conducted as an activity under the project titled, “Enhancing Citizen’s Participation in Local Governance funded by UN Women Liberia through the Peace Building Fund, implemented being implemented by the Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) and the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL). The research was validated with citizens in the project counties and launched to key stakeholders represents a critical step toward strengthening citizen participation, enhancing service delivery, and advancing inclusive governance reforms across Liberia.

                                                                                                                                 -End -

Press Release

CENTAL, WONGOSOL, Present Findings of a Research on Local Governance and Service Delivery in Liberia

Monrovia, December 8, 2025 – The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) in partnership with the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), with support from the UN Women Liberia, on Friday, December 5, 2025, presented findings of a research report on assessing local governance and service delivery in Liberia.

The research, conducted in four (4) counties in November 2025, offers a comprehensive analysis of citizens’ perceptions of local governance, service delivery, and participatory development in Liberia. The report, amongst others, seeks to shape policy discussions and mobilize collective efforts for governance reform and accountability, in line with the government of Liberia’s national development agenda—the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development—and UN Women’s priority of promoting inclusive, transparent, and gender-responsive governance. 

In his remarks during the official launch of the report in Monrovia, Hon. Emmanuel Wheinyue, Assistant Minister for Research and Development Planning at the Ministry of Local Government, formerly the Ministry of Internal Affairs, described the report as a critical tool for increased policy intervention to improve service delivery across Liberia. On behalf of the ministry, he committed to using findings of the report as tools for policy intervention aimed at promoting inclusive, accountable, and impactful public service delivery, especially at the local level.

Conducted in November 2025 through a structured Kobo Collect questionnaire administered by trained volunteers and researchers, the research engaged 385 respondents, comprising 183 females (or 48 percent) and 202 males (or 52 percent), across diverse demographic and social categories. A majority of respondents, 54 percent, were youth under the age of 35, with private citizens, youth groups, and women’s groups forming the largest categories.

Presenting a summary of the report findings, CENTAL’s Project Lead, C. Rogget Chea, highlighted a persistent gap between the promise of decentralization and the lived experiences of citizens. He revealed that governance structures such as County Councils and County Service Centers are recognized but remain constrained by limited transparency, weak responsiveness, limited financing, and inadequate inclusion of marginalized groups and voices.

However, he emphasized that increased evidence-based advocacy and capacity building for citizens and the presence of the media, civil society, and community-based organizations provide a foundation for building more inclusive and accountable governance and improved service delivery in Liberia. UN Women Liberia Program Officer, Leeneh Y. Kiamu, highlighted the need for increased collaborative efforts towards the promotion of decentralization, transparency, responsiveness, and the involvement of women's groups and persons with disabilities.  

The report highlighted challenges confronting the County Service Centers, as 25% of respondents rated their services as transparent, and over a quarter considered them effective. Also, women, youth, and persons with disabilities were consistently rated as having moderate to very low involvement in decision-making processes. Additionally, 69% of respondents rated advocacy and capacity efforts as strong or very strong, with more than half of respondents admitting to have attended meetings organized by civil society organizations. Awareness of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) was reported to be extensive at 87%, while confidence in advocacy effectiveness was mixed.

The report recommends more capacity-building efforts for citizens, civil society, media, and other groups on gender, decentralization, and good governance; increased sensitization and evidence-based advocacy by civil society and community based organizations; the provision of support and mentorship for women, youths, and persons with disabilities to participate in local governance and hold their leaders accountable; stronger government-cso partnership in supporting decentralization and other efforts; and adequate financing of County Councils, County Service Centers and other decentralized structures to improve accountability and public service delivery.

The research was conducted as an activity under the project titled “Enhancing Citizen’s Participation in Local Governance,” funded by UN Women Liberia through the Peace Building Fund, implemented being implemented by the Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) and the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL). The research was validated with citizens in the project counties and launched to key stakeholders, representing a critical step toward strengthening citizen participation, enhancing service delivery, and advancing inclusive governance reforms across Liberia.