WHEN AMARA KONNEH became Minister of Finance and Development Planning in 2011, he made news for sacking more than a score of custom officers at various posts across the country. That was a rare move, at least for the number and the profile of those involved.
HOWEVER, THE THEN new and enthusiastic Konneh said that weeding out corrupt officials from the crucial revenue collection points was important for the growth and development of the country.
BY THEN, THE LIBERIA Revenue Authority formation was in the pipeline. Then former Deputy Minister for Revenue, Elfreda Stewart-Tamba was making a strong case to have the revenue department of the Ministry of Finance to be a separate entity in order to maximize the collection of much-needed revenue.
TODAY, THAT IS the case. Occupying the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) building at the ELWA Junction in Paynesville, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) is not just another entity with many employees. The LRA has, in just a few years, justified why it should have always been a separate entity of the government.
FULLY AWARE OF the importance of taxes and the impact of the fraud, tax evasion and other revenue-related crimes, LRA is collecting revenue, without fear or favor. It has sealed the doors of delinquent taxpayers and has enforced tax payment in a way never experienced that it seems to be leading a kind of revenue revolution. You can ask the Henries and Henries Law Firm about that if you like.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, the LRA nabbed four Fula nationals for fraud. The quadruplets were arrested and sent to court in a syndicate that involves personnel of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) and the Ministry of Transport. All four men used fake receipt for work permit and driver’s license.
BEFORE THAT, THE LRA confiscated seven vehicles after receiving a tipoff from the United States embassy near Monrovia. This matter has gone to court after the owner of the confiscated vehicles claimed that the cars were not stolen.
THE ANTI-SMUGGLING AND Intelligence Section (ASIS) of the LRA, working in collaboration with the Liberian National Police and the US embassy had intercepted and seized the vehicles at the Freeport of Monrovia on October 13, 2016, while said the vehicles were being offloaded from the containers.
THE LRA’S WORK is not going unnoticed. Commissioner General Elfreida Stewart- Tamba now heads the West Africa Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) at a colorful ceremony held at the 11th General Assembly of the heads of West Africa Tax Administrations held in Dakar Senegal from 28 – 29 September, 2016. WATAF is the ECOWAS auxiliary for all tax administrations across West Africa.
IN THIS YEAR’S State of the Nation Address, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf underscored the important role the LRA is playing. The President lauded the entity for collecting US$517.2 million in the previous fiscal year, despite beginning work on July 1, 2014.
“THE LIBERIA REVENUE Authority (LRA) commenced work on July 1, 2014. Our hope is that with better governance, leadership and an incentive structure our tax Administration will significantly improve revenue performance,” President Sirleaf said. “This will require cooperation and support from government officials and political authorities accepting that just as we pursue ordinary people and businesses to pay their taxes, the same treatment will be extended to officials of Government in all three branches who should commit to bearing their fair share of the tax burden. This is the only sustainable way to finance our national development and improve service delivery to our people.”
THIS IS EXACTLY the point, the LRA is a crucial arm of the government whose duties and responsibilities are aligned with every single one of the development initiative taken. All—businesspeople, public officials and ordinary people—must understand that when the LRA flourishes, the entire country flourishes. We must put hands around the LRA if truly we really want our country to move forward.
TRUE, THAT THE LRA must be a credible institution but we are in the position where we understand that enormity of the positive impact it made on the Liberian economy and the lives of people nationwide.
