Monrovia – The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has commended the Liberian Government for its impressive performance in the fiscal year 2024 Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) scorecard, securing passage in 14 out of 20 indicators. The scorecards, released on November 7, are a testament to Liberia’s progress in economic freedom, just governance, and human capital investment.
Of the 80 countries assessed by MCC for FY 2024, Liberia joined the ranks of the 25 nations that passed, outperforming its immediate neighbors and Mano River Union counterparts. Ivory Coast scored 55%, Sierra Leone 50%, and Guinea 30%, while Liberia achieved a commendable 70%.
The positive outcome was particularly highlighted in controlling corruption, fiscal policy, and employment opportunities, where Liberia showcased advancements. However, despite the achievement, CENTAL emphasized the need for continued efforts, especially in addressing the culture of impunity associated with corruption.
While Liberia improved its controlling corruption indicator from 54% in 2023 to 59% in 2024, CENTAL urged the government to intensify anti-corruption efforts. Notably, the organization stressed the importance of robustly enforcing anti-corruption laws and policies, especially in cases involving high-profile public officials.
CENTAL pointed out that despite consistently passing the controlling corruption indicator, Liberia still faces challenges in implementing anti-corruption measures effectively. The organization highlighted the need for political will and the proper execution of laws to combat corruption effectively.
The U.S. Government’s sanctions on Senator Prince Y. Johnson and Senator Varney Sherman, among others, were cited as evidence of international recognition of corruption challenges in Liberia. CENTAL urged the Liberian Government to investigate and prosecute these individuals, emphasizing the importance of not becoming complacent due to the country’s positive scorecard performance.
In its recommendations, CENTAL called for greater actions from the national government to ensure that the improvements on paper translate into tangible results and improved living conditions for the people. The organization urged continuous efforts to address impunity for corruption, emphasizing the importance of political will and the effective implementation of anti-corruption laws.
CENTAL also called for attention to areas where the government fell short, including regulatory quality, government effectiveness, girls’ primary education completion rate, education expenditure, natural resource protection, and child health. The organization appealed for increased support and partnership from development partners, civil society, the media, and other stakeholders to sustain and enhance the gains made by the Liberian Government.