Monrovia, Liberia — Pressure group Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) has accused the Liberia National Police (LNP) of attempting to mislead the public after the institution circulated a now-withdrawn claim that it had been ranked the 10th best police force in Africa and 70th globally in the 2026 World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI).
In a strongly worded statement issued Monday, STAND described the claim as a calculated attempt to manufacture credibility and polish the image of the police amid growing public criticism and questions over accountability. The group said the publication of the ranking was not a simple communication error but a deliberate act of misinformation designed to project prestige without evidence.
According to STAND, the controversy reflects a deeper institutional problem within the Liberia National Police, accusing the force of prioritising image management over truth and public accountability. The group argued that by promoting an unverified international ranking, the police compromised public confidence and exposed what it called a troubling disregard for transparency.
STAND further claimed the incident appeared to be part of a broader effort by LNP leadership under Inspector General Gregory Coleman to repair reputational damage following recent public criticism tied to the police’s association with President Joseph Boakai’s controversial peace award appearance abroad. The group said the police’s decision to quietly retract the statement only after sustained media and public scrutiny reinforced concerns that the misinformation would have remained unchallenged had it not been exposed.
The organisation warned that the incident comes at a sensitive time for Liberia, as the government faces increasing domestic and international scrutiny over governance concerns and allegations of human rights violations. STAND said the circulation of false claims by a national security institution in such a climate sends what it called a dangerous signal about the state of public accountability.
It also criticised the police for what it described as a pattern of conduct that continues to erode public trust, particularly amid unresolved concerns over the treatment of protesters and broader allegations of abuse involving state security institutions. In that context, STAND said the ranking controversy has only deepened public scepticism about the force’s credibility.
Reaffirming its position, STAND said the Liberia National Police must remain committed to its core mandate of protecting lives, enforcing the law, and acting in the public interest, rather than engaging in what it described as public relations deception.
The group maintained that law enforcement institutions must be held to a higher standard of honesty and accountability, warning that any police force willing to misrepresent its own standing risks losing the moral authority required to enforce justice impartially.
STAND said it will continue to challenge what it called institutional dishonesty and abuse of public trust, insisting that truth, justice, and accountability must remain central to national governance.
