Liberians Express Confidence in Boakai's Govt Handling of Corruption

The latest Afrobarometer findings show that more Liberians trust Joseph Boakai's government. They believe it is doing well in fighting corruption. Public trust in key institutions has also improved.

In 2022, perceptions of corruption were high. However, they dropped significantly from 76% to 34% in 2024. Now, nearly three in ten (28%) Liberians approve of the government's anti-corruption efforts. This is over four times the approval rate from 2022.

More than half (54%) of Liberians feel the government is fighting corruption effectively. This marks a 43-point increase since 2022. The survey was conducted by the Center for Democratic Governance (CDG) from July 30 to August 21, 2024.

It included a random sample of 1,200 Liberians aged over 18. Of those surveyed, 51% were men and 49% were women. Education levels varied: 17% completed primary education, while 46% finished secondary education.

The survey indicates fewer citizens believe corruption is increasing now. More people feel they can report corruption without fear of retaliation.

However, many still see police officers as corrupt. About 64% say "most" or "all" police officers are corrupt. A majority also perceive widespread corruption among parliament members (59%), senators (57%), and judges (52%).

The number of Liberians who think reporting corruption is safe increased by nine percentage points since 2022, rising to 36%. Still, most (63%) believe there are risks involved in speaking up.

Despite these concerns, trust in some state institutions has slightly improved since last year. Citizens see high moral standards in the Armed Forces of Liberia at a rate of 57%. The president's office received a trust rating of 46%, which is a nine-point increase compared to last year.

The Ministry of Health also scored well with a rating of 44%. This survey comes as the government intensifies its fight against corruption after years of effort and a new anti-corruption strategy.

Afrobarometer is an independent research network providing reliable data on democracy and governance across Africa.