By G. Watson Richards
The Liberia National Police (LNP) has withdrawn a widely shared claim that it was ranked among the top police institutions in Africa and the world, following questions raised by the Verity News Editorial Board.
In a press statement issued on May 4, the LNP admitted that its earlier announcement, stating it was ranked 10th in Africa and 70th globally in the 2026 World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI), was based on information that had not been properly verified.
According to the police, an internal review found that established communication procedures were not followed before the claim was made public.
The statement also clarified that the data had been wrongly taken from the Global Peace Index, which measures how peaceful countries are, not how police institutions perform.
“The position assigned to Liberia reflects the country’s standing on national peace indicators, not the performance or ranking of the Liberia National Police,” the statement said.
The correction came shortly after Verity News published an editorial challenging the credibility of the ranking.
The paper reported that no 2026 WISPI report exists, noting that only the 2016 and 2023 editions are publicly available.
In both reports, Liberia ranked near the bottom globally, far from the position earlier claimed by the LNP.
The editorial also cited Afrobarometer findings, which place Liberia 34th out of 40 African countries in terms of police professionalism, again contradicting the LNP’s earlier statement.
Following an editorial by Verity News that called for a retraction and apology, the police issued its correction, express regret for the misinformation and any confusion it may have caused.
The LNP says it is now tightening its internal communication processes, including stricter fact-checking and stronger oversight, to avoid similar mistakes.
The incident has fueled public discussion about transparency and accountability in government institutions, especially when it comes to information that shapes public perception.
While the police have reaffirmed their commitment to professionalism and accuracy, the situation highlights the important role of the media in questioning official claims and keeping public institutions in check.
