Monrovia—New findings from the Center for Democratic Governance (CDG) show that many Liberians harbor a significant lack of trust in their local government’s ability to manage revenues effectively. The Afrobarometer 10th survey, which examines democracy and governance in Liberia, was released Thursday in Monrovia.
By: Francis G. Boayue
Afrobarometer is a non-partisan, pan-African survey research network that has gathered public opinion on issues of democracy, governance, and quality of life across Africa since 1999, completing nine rounds of surveys in up to 42 countries.
Conducted between July 30 and August 21, 2024, the survey reveals widespread concerns about corruption in local revenue management, with a substantial majority of respondents believing that local resources allocated to county governments are likely to be lost to graft.
Key findings from the survey indicate that nearly two-thirds (63%) of Liberians expressed little or no trust in their local county governments to utilize locally generated revenue for development.
The survey findings further report that eight in ten citizens (80%) believe that significant portions of revenues provided to county governments are lost to corruption; 46% stated that “a lot” will be lost, while 34% indicated “some” would be lost.
According to the survey outcome, three-quarters (76%) agree that counties should retain a portion of local revenues for development purposes and seven in ten respondents (71%) believe that allowing voters to elect county superintendents would enhance citizen participation and accountability.
It further noted that more than half (56%) feel that the current system, wherein superintendents are appointed by the president, has served the country well.
The Afrobarometer survey involved a nationally representative sample of 1,200 adult citizens and has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Previous surveys have been conducted in Liberia in 2008, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2022.
These findings underscore significant challenges in local governance and revenue management, highlighting an urgent need for reforms to foster greater public trust and accountability in local government operations.
