Summary:

• The government has placed whistleblower boxes at ministries and police stations to allow citizens to report corruption, part of President Boakai’s wider anti-graft drive.
• The initiative follows shortcomings of a previous reporting app, but experts warn that public fear of retaliation and mistrust in institutions may undermine its success.
• Civil society groups say the scheme’s credibility will depend on whether complaints lead to visible investigations and real action against corruption

OLD ROAD, Monrovia – The wooden box bolted to the wall at the Ministry of Education looks ordinary enough. But according to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, the country’s independent corruption watchdog, this simple contraption could be a game-changer in the country’s long fight against entrenched corruption.

Eighteen months into President Joseph Boakai’s administration the Commission has quietly rolled out what officials are calling their most ambitious grassroots anti-corruption initiative yet – physical whistleblower boxes where Liberians can drop anonymous tips about government corruption.

The boxes, launched August 15th, are now stationed at six locations across Greater Monrovia: the Civil Service Agency, the education and commerce ministries, plus three police stations. More are coming, officials say.

The Commission plans to install 50 boxes in total, with 15-18 going to “high-risk” agencies handling contracts and finances. It maintains exclusive control through...

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