By By: Staff Writer
Monrovia — The Liberia National Police has withdrawn a press release that claimed it ranked 10th in Africa and 70th globally on the 2026 World Internal Security and Police Index, admitting the information was “unverified and misinterpreted” after facing criticism for misleading the public.
The LNP’s Communications Department deleted the original statement from its official Facebook page before issuing a correction Sunday evening.
In the retraction signed by Chief of Press and Public Affairs DCP Sam K. Collins, the LNP said an internal review found that “established communication protocols were not followed” and that the claim was based on a source that does not rank police institutions.
“A review of the referenced source confirms that the Global Peace Index ranks countries based on overall levels of peacefulness and does not assess or rank police institutions,” the correction stated. “The position assigned to Liberia reflects the country’s standing on national peace indicators, not the performance or ranking of the Liberia National Police.”
What the LNP First Claimed
Earlier the same day, the LNP had published a release titled “Liberia National Police Gains Global Recognition in International Policing Index.” It asserted the force was ranked 10th in Africa and 70th worldwide in the 2026 WISPI report, up from 16th in Africa and 106th globally in 2017/2018.
The now-deleted statement said the ranking reflected “steady progress in institutional reform and service delivery” and cited contributions to peacekeeping operations in South Sudan. It also acknowledged ongoing challenges including “corruption, police misconduct, and accountability.”
Backlash Prompted Review
The claim drew swift criticism online, with commentators accusing the police of spreading false information about its international standing. The LNP did not specify what triggered the internal review, but said it was conducted after the release went public.
“The LNP regrets the error and any confusion caused,” Collins said.
New Verification Rules
The police said it is now “reinforcing its internal communication protocols,” including stricter verification requirements, enhanced supervisory oversight, and mandatory source authentication for all information released to the public.
“The LNP reaffirms its commitment to accuracy, accountability, and professional standards in all public communications,” the statement read.
Context
The World Internal Security and Police Index was last published in 2016 and covered 127 countries. No 2026 WISPI report has been released. The Global Peace Index, produced annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, measures national peacefulness and does not evaluate individual police forces.
The incident marks a rare public retraction by the LNP’s communications unit, which has faced past questions over accuracy in releases. The force has been under pressure to improve transparency and public trust amid ongoing concerns about misconduct and accountability within its ranks.
