The Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), James Dorbor Jallah, has outlined the Authority’s strategic priorities as he leads an LRA delegation to participate in the 7th High-Level Policy Dialogue and General Assembly of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Team LRA is comprised of staff from Domestic Tax, Customs and other critical divisions of the Authority and the weeklong WATAF event, hosted by the NRA from September 15–19, 2025, brings together tax officials, experts, and partners from across West Africa to deliberate on strategies for strengthening and simplifying revenue collection to foster development across the region. Speaking to his team Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, ahead of the official opening, CG Jallah emphasized the importance of learning from regional counterparts and drawing from their practical experiences to strengthen the work of the LRA.
He encouraged LRA delegates to take advantage of networking opportunities, noting that the connections built during such events often bring lasting value beyond the formal conference resolutions. He further urged the team to position themselves strategically during the sessions and actively engage in the discussions on contemporary tax issues.
According to him, careful listening, full participation, and detailed note-taking would help the LRA identify new opportunities and approaches that could be applied back home. The Commissioner General also disclosed plans for bilateral engagements with the National Revenue Authority (NRA) of Sierra Leone, including meetings with technical counterparts.
He stressed that while the LRA has developed strong capacities, there is still much to learn from fellow West African authorities whose daily experiences provide real-world lessons, often more relevant than the “textbook accounts” presented by partners from outside the continent. CG Jallah made it clear that the LRA delegation is attending the WATAF meetings with a clear mandate: to strengthen collaboration, deepen partnerships, and tap into regional expertise that will help Liberia achieve its ambitious US$1 billion revenue target.
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, the delegation received a rousing welcome at the Sierra Leonean border town of Jendema, en route to the Dialogue. Cultural performances and warm pleasantries marked their arrival, reflecting the hospitality of Sierra Leone and the close ties between the two nations.
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of NRA Commissioner General Jeneba Bangura, Customs Manager Mujiru I. I. Kallon underscored the bond between the two countries. “As Africans, we should be our brothers’ keepers, and Liberia has demonstrated that to Sierra Leone,” Kallon remarked.
In response, CG Jallah expressed gratitude for the reception, stating, “We feel we are at home; we are all one family. A success for Sierra Leone means a success for Liberia, and a success for Liberia equally means a success for Sierra Leone.” He noted that the “warm generosity reflects not only the bonds of friendship between the two institutions, but also the enduring spirit of sisterly solidarity that unites Liberia and Sierra Leone.”
