The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) wishes to inform the general public that, the most recent Afrobarometer Survey Report, Round 9, 2021/2023, covering 39 countries, has ranked Sierra Leone Government’s Performance in fighting corruption with a Score of 58 per cent, far above the 39-country average of 29 per cent. Sierra Leone is also ranked as one of ONLY Six (6) African countries with majority approval of their Government’s stellar performance in fighting corruption.
Sierra Leone further ranks 39 per cent, 2nd to Benin 58 per cent, with huge change in approval of Government’s performance in the the fight against corruption.
The Report further shows a significant DECLINE of only 7 percent of Sierra Leoneans who consider corruption as the most important problem facing Sierra Leone. According to the Report, 51 per cent of citizens think the level of corruption has increased with an average HIGH increase of 58%; as opposed to 71 per cent recorded in the survey Round in 2014/2015, thereby showing a significant DECREASE. Comparatively, in other African countries, 82 per cent of respondents in South Africa; 77 percent in Ghana, Gambia and Kenya; 76 per cent, 74 per cent and 73 per cent in Liberia, Nigeria and Senegal respectively; think the level of corruption has increased in their respective countries.
In the area of African Governments’ management of COVID-19 funds, Sierra Leone is OUTSTANDINGLY ranked 3rd for good management of the funds across 39 countries with the average percentage of 68 and Sierra Leone recording only 43 per cent, where as, Tunisia, Kenya and Nigeria poorly recorded 89 percent, 88 percent and 83 percent respectively.
However, the Report shows that citizens’ perception of police corruption remains grim with a 72% of an average of 46%. In that regard, the Commission reiterates its commitment to continue collaborating with the leadership of the Sierra Leone Police to address issues of bribery in their operations.
Furthermore, the 2023 Afro-Barometer Round 9 Survey Report states that, Two-thirds (67%) of Africans believe their Government is failing in the fight against corruption, with the exception of Sierra Leone, Benin, Tanzania, Zambia, Mali and Guinea, where citizens trust that their Government’s anti-graft campaign is yielding dividends. In the last Afro-Barometer Round 8 Survey Report conducted in 2014/2015, Sierra Leone was rated an abysmal 19 percent, which shows that corruption prevalence in the country has continued to experience a decline as well as a show of strong Government determination and effectiveness in combating the scourge.
Commenting on the findings of the Report, the Commissioner of ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. said: “This is good news for the country’s massive strides in the fight against corruption, especially so when it corroborates other local and international transparency surveys which continue to rate Sierra Leone highly favorably. For example, according to the 2023 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index published on 30th January, 2024, for the 5th consecutive year in five years, Sierra Leone progressed 22 places upwards in the TI Rankings, moving from 110 in 2022 to 108 out of 180 countries surveyed. As we are about to usher in a new National Anti-Corruption Strategy, we will only assure Sierra Leoneans that the fight against corruption will continue to be tougher and fiercer in a bid to make far more gains than we have had in the recent past.”
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life.
The Commission continues to reassure the general public of its relentless resolve to effectively control corruption at all levels in Sierra Leone.
For further enquiries on this and other ACC issues, please contact Sylvanus Blake, Public Relations Officer on +232-78-832131 or by email to info@anticorruption.gov.sl.
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PATRICK SANDI
DIRECTOR, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
