The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) welcomes the notable progress made by Liberia on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) FY2026 Scorecard, released on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Liberia passed 12 out of 22 indicators, including the critical “Control of Corruption” indicator, marking an encouraging step forward in national governance and public sector accountability.
As an independent U.S. Government agency, the MCC works to reduce global poverty through economic growth. Liberia’s improved performance especially the control of corruption, fiscal policy (for the first time since 2007), rule of law, access to credit, gender in the economy, land rights and access, trade policy, health expenditure, immunization, and political rights demonstrates the potential of ongoing reforms and collaborative efforts across government and civil society. CENTAL applauds the Government of Liberia for this positive trajectory. However, the institution underscores that Liberia’s 56-percent score on the control of corruption indicator leaves no room for complacency.
Impunity for corruption remains high, and more institutional, legal, and enforcement-driven reforms are needed to achieve substantive and lasting progress. Additionally, the report highlighted failures in 10 critical indicators, including civil liberties, government effectiveness, natural resource protection, access to justice, regulatory policy, and education-related metrics areas that urgently require increased attention and corrective action.
CENTAL also notes with concern the marginal declines in several key indicators compared to 2024: control of corruption dropped from 59 to 57; fiscal policy decreased from 51 to 41; trade policy plummeted from 63 to 21; and gender in the economy declined from 84 to 76. These downward trends signal the need for deeper, more coordinated government action to strengthen systems and policies that directly affect the welfare of citizens.
These MCC results align with broader anti-corruption trends reflected in the Transparency International 2024 Corruption Perception Index which saw Liberia improve from a score of 25 in 2023 to 27 in 2024 and CENTAL’s own 2024 State of Corruption Report, which recorded a seven-point decline in public perception of the prevalence of corruption. While encouraging, these gains remain fragile without decisive actions to address persistent impunity. CENTAL reiterates its call for stronger political will, adequate budgetary and logistical support to integrity institutions, and non-discriminatory enforcement of anti-corruption laws.
The organization urges the swift establishment of a specialized court to prosecute corruption cases, alongside judicial and legislative reforms, including regular audits of all branches of government. Critical too is timely public disclosure of state-funded projects, including the controversial alleged US$10 million presidential villa project in Foya, Lofa County. CENTAL commends the recent indictments issued by the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce against former officials of the previous administration for alleged acts of corruption. This bold move marks a significant step toward dismantling the entrenched culture of impunity.
CENTAL urges the government to fully support the Taskforce’s efforts, ensure fair and timely prosecution, and extend the same level of scrutiny to allegations involving the current administration especially the emerging concerns surrounding the Foya project. In conclusion, CENTAL calls on the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary to intensify their commitment to fighting corruption by adequately funding and empowering integrity institutions. Strengthening transparency, accountability, and public trust must remain central pillars of Liberia’s governance reform agenda. Sustained action not temporary progress is what will ultimately safeguard Liberia’s democratic and developmental gains.
