By Alusine Fullah
His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio received the Millennium Challenge Corporation, MCC, scorecard, for 2024 saying that it is always good to have an independent international assessment of his government.
Ambassador Hunt said he was pleased to let the President know that in the 2023 MCC scorecard, Sierra Leone did very well in the control of corruption and democratic rights, which was good news for the government, adding that Sierra Leone passed 10 out of the 20 indicators.
In nexus to the foregoing, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has stated in their press release that was dated on the 7th October, 2023 that the MCC scorecard has put Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission high percentage in the corruption control index for 2023. The press release states:
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) wishes to inform the general public that Sierra Leone has, again in 2023, scored very high (76 percent) in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) ‘Control of Corruption’ Indicator, making it six (6) consecutive years of sustained and significant progress in the country’s score in the MCC Scorecard since 2018. Sierra Leone continues to record remarkable scores in the MCC ‘Control of Corruption’ Scorecard, with over 70 percent in six (6) years; 71 percent score in 2018, 79 percent in 2019, 81 percent in 2020, 83 percent in 2021, 79 percent in 2022 and now 76 percent, having previously failed the indicator in 2017 with 49 percent. The current score represents a consecutive 6 years of continuous passes and improvements; which is a clear indication of the Country’s resolve and deliberate efforts to control corruption since 2018.
Sierra Leone’s score in the ‘Control of Corruption’ Indicator in 2023 positions her ahead of many other countries including, Nigeria, which scored 50 percent; Ghana 75 percent; Mali 61 percent; Togo 67 percent; Ivory Coast 59 percent; Guinea 57 percent; Liberia 59 percent; Cameroon 48 percent; Kenya 25 percent; Mozambique 63 percent; Egypt 34 percent; Mauritania 19 percent; Morocco 56 percent, etc. As a result, by this year’s Report, Sierra Leone continues to be among the top ten performers in our income category; one of the best performers in Africa; and number one in the Mano River Union.
In the just-released 2024 MCC Report, Sierra Leone passed 10 of the 20 indicators, including the mandatory ‘Control of Corruption’ Indicator. The MCC scorecard consists of 20 indicators fewer than three broad categories: “Economic Freedom,” “Ruling justly,” and “Investing in People”. The ‘Control of Corruption’ Indicator falls under “Ruling Justly” category. According to the MCC, “Of the 80 country scorecards created by MCC, 25 countries passed (including Sierra Leone) and 55 countries did not.”
The Commission concluded by assuring the general public of its unwavering determination and relentless resolve to effectively control corruption in the country.
