Freetown, Sierra Leone – Sierra Leone has once again received an impressive score of 74 percent in the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) ‘Control of Corruption’ indicator, marking the seventh consecutive year of outstanding progress in the country’s anti-corruption efforts.
According to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), this achievement highlights a continuous streak of success since 2018.
“This marks a significant milestone for Sierra Leone, as the country has consistently achieved scores above 70 percent in the MCC Scorecard since 2018,” said a spokesperson from the ACC. “In 2017, we faced challenges, with a score of just 49 percent, but since then, our country has seen exponential growth, symbolizing our strong commitment to fighting corruption.”
Sierra Leone’s latest score in the MCC’s ‘Control of Corruption’ indicator places it ahead of several countries, including Ivory Coast (63 percent), Ghana (70 percent), Nigeria (45 percent), and Liberia (57 percent). It continues to be one of the top performers in its income category, ranking among the best in Africa and standing as the number one performer in the Mano River Union.
In addition to the MCC report, Sierra Leone has made significant strides in other global and regional anti-corruption rankings.
In Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perception Index, Sierra Leone improved by 22 places, reaching a score of 35, positioning it above the Sub-Saharan average and ranking 108th globally.
The 2021/23 Afro-Barometer Survey Report further highlighted Sierra Leone’s progress, with the government receiving a score of 58 percent for its performance in combating corruption—far surpassing the 39-country average of 29 percent. Sierra Leone was also one of only six African nations with majority public approval for its anti-corruption efforts.
Additionally, the 2024 Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance recognized Sierra Leone’s notable progress in governance, particularly in anti-corruption mechanisms. With a score of 54.5 in the anti-corruption category, Sierra Leone ranked 7th out of 54 African countries, surpassing both the African and West African averages.
“The ACC remains unwavering in its commitment to continue effective corruption control in Sierra Leone,” said the commission’s spokesperson. “We are determined to build on this momentum and ensure sustained progress in the fight against corruption.”
Thanks to the team, more work needed to be done, we still have petty corruption that is affecting our daily living