Corruption and Its Impact on Liberia’s Development

By Jackie T. Kogar 
tabithabarker85@gmail.com

Liberia continues to struggle with corruption, which remains one of the primary impediments to the country’s growth and development. Despite efforts by the government and various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to address the issue, corruption remains widespread, severely affecting Liberia’s political, economic, and social sectors.

One of the most critical impacts of corruption in Liberia is its negative effect on the country’s infrastructure, public services, and governance. Corruption manifests in various forms, such as bribery, embezzlement, and the mismanagement of public resources.

According to Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Liberia ranks 137th out of 180 countries with a score of 27/100, reflecting the persistent issue of corruption in the nation. The country’s road infrastructure, for instance, has remained underdeveloped despite millions of dollars in foreign aid and government spending. The Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) reported in 2022 that only 15% of the country’s roads are paved, with many rural roads remaining impassable most likely due to misallocation of resources and bribery involving government officials and contractors. The education and healthcare sectors also suffer from corruption, with funds intended for these services being diverted elsewhere, thus depriving the public of essential services. Public hospitals often lack essential medicines and equipment, while the education system is plagued with overcrowded classrooms, insufficient teachers, and poor school facilities. According to a 2022 World Bank report, Liberia’s education system struggles with low enrollment rates and high dropout rates, further limiting the country’s human capital development.

In response to the growing challenge of corruption, the Liberian government has implemented several reforms. Under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2006-2018), initiatives like the establishment of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and the Public Procurement and Concessions Act (PPCA) were introduced. However, corruption remained widespread, as exemplified by the 2016 Sable Mining Scandal, where bribes were exchanged between mining companies and government officials. Similarly, under President George Weah’s administration, the government made commitments to transparency, including the promotion of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Some progress was made in the disclosure of mining revenue, but corruption continued, as evidenced by the 2020 ghost workers scandal, which revealed extensive payroll fraud.

Efforts to address corruption have had mixed results. Positive developments include the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI), which improved transparency in the mining sector, and the Public Financial Management Reform Program (PFMRP), which aimed to enhance budgeting practices. Despite these efforts, weak enforcement mechanisms and political interference have undermined the effectiveness of these initiatives. Additionally, the judiciary remains ineffective in prosecuting high-profile corruption cases due to limited resources and political influence, as seen in the lack of action on the Sable Mining Scandal. To effectively combat corruption, Liberia needs to strengthen its institutions and promote judicial independence. There is also a need for greater political will and stronger enforcement mechanisms to hold public officials accountable.

Transparency, greater public participation in governance, and the development of stronger oversight bodies will be essential in addressing this pervasive issue. Building a more transparent and accountable government will require concerted efforts from both the government and civil society.
By addressing these systemic issues, Liberia can work toward building a more transparent, accountable, and efficient government, which would foster sustainable development and economic growth.