Mo Ibrahim rates Liberia high

Liberia has since 2011 recorded tremendous progress in governance, safety and rule of law, participation and human rights according to the 2016 Mo Ibrahim Index African Governance Report.

The Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which is committed to analyzing data on the quality of governance in Africa freely available and accessible to all citizens of the continent and interested stakeholders. Of course the question of Liberia remains paramount but it takes profound research to get to the finishing line. On Mo Ibrahim’s Index for 2016 Liberia scorecard stands at 50.7 (reflecting a positive change since 2011 of 0.9) and rating out of a total of 54 countries place at 26th well ahead of several countries in our region in terms of the ‘overall governance’.

In the area of “Safety & Rule of Law”; which captures the extent to which all individuals and protected from both internal and external threats to the peace; the degree to which society is safe and secure is accessed alongside the existence of a robust legal system and transparent, effective and accessible institutions – within all branches of the state. Under “Safety and Rule of Law” that encompasses ‘rule of law; accountability, personal safety and national security’ – Liberia ranks 23rd with a scorecard of 55.6% (positive change since 2011 of +1.3).

Commenting on participation and human rights, which emphasizes relationship between government and citizen; it measures, on the one hand, the extent to which individuals can participate in, and take ownership of, the political process and, on the other hand, the state’s achievement in guaranteeing the political and social rights of all citizens; Liberia ranks 21st amongst 54 countries with a scorecard of 56.2% (indicating negative change since 2011 of 2.0).

On sustainable economic opportunity, that encapsulate public management, business environment, infrastructure and rural sector, which takes a panoramic perspective into whether state provides the conditions necessary for the pursuit of economic opportunities that contribute to a prosperous and equitable society and measures the delivery of sound economic policies and provision of a sustainable economic environment that is conducive to investment and the operation of a business. Liberia has since 2011 seen a steep climb and ranks 34th out of 54 states with a scorecard of 39.9%

Meanwhile, in terms of human development – in which the report captures the success of the state in securing the well-being of all its citizens and measures the extent to which the government provides citizens with social protection, comprehensive education provision and healthy life – Liberia is ranked 37th with a scorecard of 50.9% amid an impactful positive change since 2011 of +2.6 upward.