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New Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) figures, released on 11 February 2025 by Transparency International, highlight Papua New Guinea’s failure to deal with widespread corruption. PNG is classified as having a ‘high perceived risk of corruption’ with ‘no meaningful progress’ in anti-corruption efforts. PNG is the worst ranked country in the Pacific region and ranks 127th out of 180 countries globally.

Eddie Tanago, Campaign Manager

Papua New Guinea’s rating as highly corrupt in the latest global assessment published by Transparency International reflects the complete failure to tackle widespread forest crime

Transparency International recently released its 2024 Corruption Perception Index which reveals PNG is still languishing in 127th place out of 180 countries with a CPI score of just 31 out of 100, the worst in the Pacific region.

Source: CIVICUS Monitor

Source: Post- Courier January 31st 2025

Joseph Ketan, Anthropologist ad Social Scientist

THE Year 2025 marks the 50 Anniversary of Constitutional Independence for Papua New Guinea. No doubt, many of you are thinking of ways to celebrate this significant milestone in the history of our country.

An injunction issued against community advocacy group ACT NOW! to prevent publication of reports on illegal logging has been stayed by the National Court.

In July 2024, two Malaysian owned logging companies obtained an order from the District court in Vanimo preventing ACT NOW! from issuing publications about their activities and from contacting their clients and service providers. 

Image: Part of a Public Notice published in the Post Courier newspaper by the PNG Forest Authority on 29 November, 2024.

The PNG Forest Authority has recently confirmed a moratorium on issuing new Forest Clearing Authority licences is still in force while it completes its audit of existing FCA projects.

Image: Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago at a recent Global Dialogue meeting at the INTERPOL headquarters in Singapore

ACT NOW Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago has been charged by police under the Cybercrime Code Act for allegedly publishing defamatory remarks on social media about the Managing Director of the PNG Forest Authority.

The 2025 National Government budget has seen an increased of budget allocation for district support improvement program (DSIP).

This is despite the fact that DDAs are lacking transparency and accountability in their operations and expenditure.

ACT NOW! analysis has shown that there is lack of DDA contact details, DDAs lack proper development plans and bad records of acquitting funds.

Papua New Guinea is at risk of international sanction for its failure to control money laundering risks with major negative impacts on business and the economy.

According to the Bank of Papua New Guinea, the country could be grey-listed if it fails to meet the recommendations in an assessment report from the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering.