By: Sylvanus Blake, PRO-ACC
In the just released TI-CPI Report, on 30th January 2024, Sierra Leone for the fifth (5th) consecutive year since 2018, progressed remarkably upwards in the most respected Global Corruption Country Rankings, moving from 110 in 2022 to 108 out of 180 countries surveyed in the 2023 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (TI-CPI). Sierra Leone also increased its 2022 score of thirty-four (34) to thirty-five (35) in 2023, which is above the average score for sub-Saharan Africa, of Thirty-three (33), and the highest the country has ever recorded since the CPI rankings began in 1995. In five years consistently, Sierra Leone has now moved Twenty-two (22) places upwards on the CPI, from 130 in 2017 to 108 in 2023. By the report, Sierra Leone now leads Seventy-Two (72) countries in the global campaign against corruption, including Thirty-One (31) African countries, among which are; Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Angola, Madagascar, Mozambique, Niger and Libya.
Although this year’s CPI shows mixed results in Africa, with significant improvements in a few countries, however, most African countries experienced stagnation, maintaining the region’s consistently poor overall performance, with an unaltered regional average score of 30”. Nonetheless, Sierra Leone, which has been doing well on all fronts in the monitoring and assessment of efforts in the fight against corruption, performed better than the Average Score in Sub-Saharan Africa of 33for the fourth year in succession(score of 35 in 2023) and has consistently improved in the past four years.
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is an annual ranking published by Transparency International (TI), a global non-governmental organization dedicated to combating corruption. The CPI provides a comprehensive assessment of perceived corruption levels in countries around the world, based on data collected from various credible sources, including surveys of experts, business leaders, and citizens. Transparency International launched the Corruption Perceptions Index in 1995 as a tool to raise awareness about the extent and impact of corruption worldwide. It aims to shine a light on the prevalence of corruption in different countries, thereby fostering efforts to promote accountability and transparency, and driving reforms to combat corruption. The CPI is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative and influential means of measuring corruption perception globally.
Despite the commanding and commendable progress Sierra Leone has continued to make at all international and local indexes and surveys on efforts at controlling and combating corruption, one of the intriguing questions has been, the significance of these indexes and surveys to our fight against corruption, which I will attempt to answer in the following briefs;
Benchmarking: Firstly, the index provides a comparative assessment of corruption levels across countries, enabling policymakers, civil society organizations, and the public to identify trends, track progress, and benchmark their performance against regional and global peers.
Advocacy:Secondly, the CPI serves as a powerful advocacy tool for Transparency International and other anti-corruption advocates including ACC Sierra Leone, highlighting the urgent need for action to address corruption and holding governments and institutions accountable for their commitments to combat corruption.
Policy Reform:Thirdly, the CPI often motivates governments to enact legislative, policy, and institutional reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and enhancing anti-corruption measures to improve their ranking and reputation on the global stage. Sierra Leone has taken several radical actions, especially under the leadership of Francis Ben KaifalaEsq, in this regard, including but not limited to the; development of strong National Anti-Corruption Strategies, amendment of the 2008 Anti-Corruption Act in 2019, string and swift actions to address corruption allegations in the Audit Reports, on the spot raids and arrests, recovery of stolen wealth and assets, and many more.
Investor Confidence: Also the CPI is closely watched by investors, businesses, and international organizations as an indicator of the investment climate and business environment in different countriesincluding Sierra Leone. Those with higher perceived levels of corruption may face greater scrutiny and risk in attracting much-needed direct foreign investment and conducting business.
Public Awareness: In addition, the CPI raises public awareness about the prevalence and detrimental effects of corruption, fostering greater public engagement and demand for accountability and transparency in governance. The TI-CPI has been an avenue of added pressure on the Government and the ACC to take further robust actions to address corruption and improve the nation’s standings and ranking
International Relations: Likewise, the CPI can impact diplomatic relations and international cooperation, as countries seek to improve their anti-corruption credentials and strengthen partnerships with other nations and organizations committed to fighting corruption. In this regard, Sierra Leone which used to be considered a bastion of corruption is now one of the respected nations based on the same respected and highly recognized indexes and ratings that had said otherwise up until 2017.
Media Attention:Lastly, every release of the CPI typically generates significant and frenzied media attention, igniting discussions and debates about corruption and governance issues in countries around the world including Sierra Leone that are part of the TI-CPI, and putting pressure on Governments and institutions to address shortcomings highlighted in the index.
In conclusion, the Corruption Perceptions Index plays a vital role in promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in public and private sectors globally, and serves as a catalyst for further actions to combat corruption and promote good governance. It provides the ACC with the much needed impetus and direction to keep pushing and doing so appropriately.
If we are where we are today, we can keep pushing to go to where we need to be.
