By Stephen N. Sonpon
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has declared October 2026 the Month of Good Governance, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability, ethical leadership, and public trust in Liberia’s governance system.
The declaration, contained in a Presidential Proclamation signed on September 16, 2026, introduces a proposed National Integrity Index aimed at assessing and ranking public institutions based on their adherence to ethical standards, institutional efficiency, financial transparency, and accountability.
The initiative is intended to promote measurable governance standards, improve public service delivery, and provide citizens with greater opportunities to participate in evaluating the performance of government institutions.
Under the Proclamation, President Boakai has directed government ministries, agencies, and commissions to strengthen their transparency and accountability mechanisms while cooperating with the Governance Commission in implementing the initiative.
The Governance Commission is expected to lead the process in collaboration with the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), including the publication of the maiden National Integrity Index.
The proposed index is expected to provide a framework for evaluating the performance of public institutions, identifying governance gaps, and recommending measures to improve institutional effectiveness and public sector integrity.
To ensure credibility and public confidence in the assessment process, the Governance Commission is expected to establish independent review panels comprising representatives of civil society organizations, educational institutions, the private sector, and the media.
The panels will review and validate governance indicators, while policy recommendations arising from the assessments will be submitted to the Executive for consideration.
President Boakai’s declaration also calls for the deployment of the Governance Barometer, a scientific assessment tool designed to inform the preparation of the Annual State of Governance and Integrity Report.
The instrument is expected to draw on governance performance indicators, citizen feedback, and independent assessments to provide a more comprehensive picture of institutional performance across the country.
In a related measure, the Proclamation calls for the institutionalization of Citizen Scorecards as formal mechanisms for public participation in governance assessments.
The proposed mechanisms will include town hall meetings, public dialogues, and digital feedback platforms through which citizens can assess public institutions and share their experiences with government service delivery.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the relationship between citizens and public institutions by providing channels through which the public can communicate concerns, assess government performance, and contribute to improving service delivery.
The Proclamation further calls on educational institutions, traditional leadership councils, local government structures, and media organizations across Liberia’s 15 counties to organize public awareness campaigns, debates, and community outreach activities promoting integrity, transparency, and civic responsibility.
As part of the observance, special recognition and awards will also be provided for individuals, institutions, and communities demonstrating exemplary commitment to public integrity and good governance, including those making notable improvements in governance practices.
President Boakai noted that the observance reflects his administration’s efforts to align Liberia’s domestic governance reforms with the African Union Governance Architecture and international standards for integrity and accountability.
The Proclamation also references the legislative enactment of October 9, 2007, which established the Governance Commission and mandated it to advise the Government of Liberia on policies aimed at promoting integrity, combating corruption, and improving institutional efficiency.
The President has called on citizens, government institutions, educational establishments, traditional leaders, and national and international organizations to collaborate with the Governance Commission in organizing and implementing activities throughout October.
The declaration places institutional performance, citizen participation, and public accountability at the center of the month-long observance, with the proposed National Integrity Index expected to provide a structured basis for assessing how effectively public institutions uphold governance standards and fulfill their responsibilities to the Liberian people.
The initiative signals a renewed push to move Liberia’s governance agenda beyond policy commitments toward measurable institutional performance, independent assessments, and greater public participation in holding government institutions accountable.