The annual report on human rights for 2010 released recently by the US Department of State was critical of continued failures in tackling corruption in Liberia and the systemic nature of this problem, citing weaknesses in the judicial system, including the susceptibility to bribery of judges and juries. A culture of impunity in society, low wages and limited training of civil servants, and the lack of capacity at the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission were mentioned as further key factors, with the insufficient budget and minimal staff of the commission hampering its ability to carry out its mandate effectively.

The report also commented on the lack of follow-up in the auditing process, with no recommendations having been made by the legislature to the Ministry of Justice despite the completion of over 40 audits by the outgoing auditor-general. The report did, however, commend the government for progress in relation to transparency, including the publication of the national budget and quarterly financial results, the passing of the Freedom of Information Act, one of few in Africa, and the continued implementation of the Liberian extractive industries transparency initiative.

The Ministry of Justice concurred with the findings of the State Department regarding the widespread nature of corruption in a statement that followed its publication. The solicitor-general, Wilkins Wright, suggested that the jury system had exacerbated the problem, and reported that reform of the current Jury Law was currently being considered by a task-force. He added that out of a total of 14 corruption cases that had been investigated, six had been tried, four were still under investigation and four were awaiting trial. Of the six cases that have been tried, one was dismissed, one resulted in a hung verdict, one has been remanded for retrial, one resulted in a conviction that was subsequently reversed, and two resulted in the acquittal of the defendants. This suggests that the record of the government is not as bad as it may appear, with eight cases remaining outstanding and offering an opportunity for the government to obtain the convictions necessary to repair its record in this area.