Governance Commission and Partners Launch National Integrity Index (NII)
Monrovia, Liberia-The Governance Commission (GC), through its National Integrity System Mandate Area and in collaboration with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), has officially launched the National Integrity Index (NII), a flagship governance reform initiative aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and institutional performance across the public sector.
Officially launching the National Integrity Index (NII), the Director General of the Cabinet, Hon. Nathaniel T. Kwabo, described the NII as a game changer and emphasized its role as a transformative tool designed to provide a standardized, annual assessment of public institutions.
The Index will rank public institutions based on transparency, accountability, ethical compliance, citizen engagement, and institutional capacity.
Hon. Kwabo appealed to both local and international partners to provide sustained support to the Commission in reaching its overarching goal of strengthening integrity systems, driving reforms, and building public trust.
In a special statement, the Acting Chairperson of the Governance Commission, Prof. Alaric K. Tokpa, described the launch as a historic milestone in Liberia’s governance journey. He emphasized that the NII represents a shift from aspirational commitments to measurable and enforceable standards of integrity.
According to him, the Index will diagnose institutional performance, incentivize improvement, and inform policy through evidence-based research and recommendations.
Prof. Tokpa further noted that the NII aligns with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), particularly Pillar IV on Governance and Anti-Corruption, and is intended to embed integrity within Liberia’s national development framework. He stressed that the initiative is a collective national effort involving government, civil society, communities, and development partners.
Presenting an overview of the Index, Hon. Matthew Ballah Kollie Jr., Oversight Commissioner for the National Integrity System Mandate Area of the Governance Commission, described the NII as a governance health check that measures the foundational elements of effective public administration. He emphasized that sustainable development depends not only on visible infrastructure but also on strong governance systems. He cited global evidence indicating that countries with stronger governance frameworks achieve higher economic performance and improved service delivery.
The NII is structured around five key dimensions: transparency (30%), accountability (30%), ethical compliance (20%), citizen engagement (10%), and institutional capacity (10%). Institutions will be assessed on a scale of 0–100 and categorized as High Integrity (75–100), Moderate Integrity (50–74), or Low Integrity (0–49). Scores will be validated through triangulation, peer review, and civil society monitoring.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairperson of the LACC, Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, underscored the importance of continued support from development partners and highlighted the critical role of the media and civil society in promoting accountability.
For his part, the Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), James Dorbor Jallah said the launch of the NII is not simply the unveiling of a tool or framework, but a statement of national intent.
He noted that the launch of the Index tells the world that Liberia is serious. “We are serious about accountability, serious about transparency, and serious about building institutions that serve the public good rather than private interests,” Jallah said.
The NII provides a transparent, comparable, and repeatable measurement framework aligned with national development priorities. It is expected to translate policy commitments into actionable and trackable outcomes.
The launch of the event was attended by senior government officials and representatives of key international partners, including the European Union Delegation to Liberia, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations Development Program, among others.
Officially launching the National Integrity Index (NII), the Director General of the Cabinet, Hon. Nathaniel T. Kwabo, described the NII as a game changer and emphasized its role as a transformative tool designed to provide a standardized, annual assessment of public institutions.
The Index will rank public institutions based on transparency, accountability, ethical compliance, citizen engagement, and institutional capacity.
Hon. Kwabo appealed to both local and international partners to provide sustained support to the Commission in reaching its overarching goal of strengthening integrity systems, driving reforms, and building public trust.
In a special statement, the Acting Chairperson of the Governance Commission, Prof. Alaric K. Tokpa, described the launch as a historic milestone in Liberia’s governance journey. He emphasized that the NII represents a shift from aspirational commitments to measurable and enforceable standards of integrity.
According to him, the Index will diagnose institutional performance, incentivize improvement, and inform policy through evidence-based research and recommendations.
Prof. Tokpa further noted that the NII aligns with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), particularly Pillar IV on Governance and Anti-Corruption, and is intended to embed integrity within Liberia’s national development framework. He stressed that the initiative is a collective national effort involving government, civil society, communities, and development partners.
Presenting an overview of the Index, Hon. Matthew Ballah Kollie Jr., Oversight Commissioner for the National Integrity System Mandate Area of the Governance Commission, described the NII as a governance health check that measures the foundational elements of effective public administration. He emphasized that sustainable development depends not only on visible infrastructure but also on strong governance systems. He cited global evidence indicating that countries with stronger governance frameworks achieve higher economic performance and improved service delivery.
The NII is structured around five key dimensions: transparency (30%), accountability (30%), ethical compliance (20%), citizen engagement (10%), and institutional capacity (10%). Institutions will be assessed on a scale of 0–100 and categorized as High Integrity (75–100), Moderate Integrity (50–74), or Low Integrity (0–49). Scores will be validated through triangulation, peer review, and civil society monitoring.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairperson of the LACC, Cllr. Alexandra K. Zoe, underscored the importance of continued support from development partners and highlighted the critical role of the media and civil society in promoting accountability.
For his part, the Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), James Dorbor Jallah said the launch of the NII is not simply the unveiling of a tool or framework, but a statement of national intent.
He noted that the launch of the Index tells the world that Liberia is serious. “We are serious about accountability, serious about transparency, and serious about building institutions that serve the public good rather than private interests,” Jallah said.
The NII provides a transparent, comparable, and repeatable measurement framework aligned with national development priorities. It is expected to translate policy commitments into actionable and trackable outcomes.
The launch of the event was attended by senior government officials and representatives of key international partners, including the European Union Delegation to Liberia, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations Development Program, among others.