Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Francis Ben Kaifala, Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Sierra Leone, has urged the international community to rethink and improve methodologies for measuring corruption, highlighting the limitations of existing tools such as the Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
Speaking at the 2nd Global Conference on “Harnessing Data to Improve Corruption Measurement” at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Commissioner Kaifala conveyed greetings from the President and people of Sierra Leone, welcoming efforts to redefine global corruption measurement.
“Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception Index is controversial, particularly in developing countries that often fare poorly,” he said. “Many African officials and anti-corruption campaigners view the CPI and accompanying commentaries as part of a purpose-driven smear campaign.”
The Commissioner noted that as a former Board Member of the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) and President of the Network of Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), he often witnessed strong criticism of the CPI, with many questioning its legitimacy and accuracy.
Kaifala highlighted specific flaws in current measurement tools, including the CPI’s reliance on perception rather than actual prevalence, lack of transparency in the selection of experts, and exclusion of critical issues such as tax fraud, money laundering, and illicit financial flows. He said these shortcomings sometimes paint an inaccurate picture of anti-corruption efforts, particularly in Africa.
“This project is important to my country,” he stated. “Existing tools often discount the efforts of anti-corruption agencies and governments, sometimes discouraging good work. A new approach is needed one that captures actual prevalence while recognizing and incorporating the efforts being made.”
He concluded by calling for the development of a methodology that is transparent, accurate, and fair, emphasizing that while corruption remains a serious challenge, measuring it effectively is key to supporting anti-graft initiatives rather than undermining them.
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