PNG has been ranked as the 139th most corrupt country in the world according to the 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
This was revealed today in a report by Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) at the Ela Beach Hotel in Port Moresby.
PNG is ranked 139 out of a 168 countries and territories. PNG was ranked 145 out of 175 in the 2014 CPI.
Chairman for TIPNG, Lawrence Stephens said the 2015 CPI showed PNG had scored 25 on a corruption scale of a 100 with 0 (being highly corrupt) and 100 (being very clean).
PNG has scored 25 for the last 4 years since 2012.
The 2015 CPI shows that Denmark is perceived to be the least most corrupt country ranking 1 with a score of 91 while Somalia is the most corrupt country scoring 8.
Stephens explained that the CPI scores and ranks for countries and territories is based on how corrupt a country’s public sector is perceived to be.
He went on to say that information gathered was from a combination of surveys and assessments of corruption gathered from 12 different data sources.
“There has been no improvement for four years. It is very sad that we have this result. We are better than what the figures show,” said Stephens.
Stephens said PNG’s ranking stemmed from the lack of accountability from leaders and the passive acceptance of corruption.
“Globally, corruption is a big issue. It is here in PNG too. But is not just the responsibility of TIPNG to fight corruption. Fighting corruption is everyone’s business from the village level up to the national government level,” said Stephens.
The event was attended by Deputy Opposition Leader, Sam Basil, Correctional Services Commissioner, Michael Waipo, representatives from the Ombudsman Commission, the Australian High Commission, US Embassy and representatives from the National Government.