By Clarence Briggs
CAIRO, Egypt — Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah has used a major continental tax conference in Egypt to highlight the country’s reported revenue growth, internal accountability measures, and digital initiatives aimed at strengthening domestic resource mobilization.
Jallah made the presentation at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), where government officials and development experts examined strategies for improving revenue generation across Africa.
Speaking during a session titled “Domestic Resource Mobilisation: Differentiated Pathways for a Diverse Continent,” the LRA chief reported that Liberia’s domestic revenue collections had risen from approximately US$612 million to US$1.134 billion. He further cited an additional US$5 million carried forward, bringing the combined reported figure to US$1.139 billion.
Beyond the revenue figures, Jallah outlined five areas underpinning the Authority’s reform agenda: strategic leadership, technology and data management, compliance and enforcement, customs and tax administration, and institutional integrity.
On institutional accountability, he disclosed that the LRA dismissed 46 employees in 2025 over fraud and other forms of misconduct, underscoring the Authority’s stated commitment to addressing corruption and violations of professional standards within its workforce.
Jallah also drew attention to the Authority’s investment in digital public services, demonstrating its revenue dashboard, which provides public access to collection data and downloadable reports.
Another initiative highlighted was Fatu, a virtual taxpayer contact centre assistant designed to make tax-related information more accessible and improve communication between the Authority and taxpayers.
He emphasized that lasting improvements in domestic revenue generation depend not only on collection targets but also on institutional credibility, transparent operations, effective enforcement, technological advancement, and responsive taxpayer services.
The discussion featured senior tax officials and development specialists from Egypt, Angola, The Gambia, Mauritius, and Vienna University, who exchanged perspectives on building revenue systems that reflect the different economic conditions and institutional capabilities across the African continent.
Liberia’s presentation placed its ongoing revenue administration reforms within a broader continental discussion on strengthening domestic financing and reducing dependence on external resources to support national development.
