By Amos Harris
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone—Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah is leading a delegation to the 7th High-Level Policy Dialogue and General Assembly of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He has outlined the authority’s strategic priorities for the event, which is aimed at strengthening Liberia’s tax administration through regional collaboration.
Before the official opening of the weeklong event on Sunday, September 14, CG Jallah addressed the LRA team. He stressed the importance of learning from regional counterparts to enhance Liberia’s tax system and encouraged delegates to actively participate in discussions, take detailed notes, and use networking opportunities to their full advantage.
“Careful listening, full participation, and strategic engagement will help us identify approaches and opportunities that can be applied back home,” Jallah told his team, which includes staff from Domestic Tax, Customs, and other key divisions.
Jallah also announced that the LRA delegation plans to hold bilateral meetings with Sierra Leone’s National Revenue Authority (NRA), including technical sessions to exchange practical experiences. He noted that while Liberia has developed strong revenue capacities, there is much to learn from the day-to-day experiences of other West African tax authorities. These practical insights often go beyond the theoretical guidance provided by external partners.
The LRA delegation’s attendance at WATAF is guided by a clear mandate: to deepen regional collaboration, strengthen partnerships, and leverage expertise to help Liberia achieve its ambitious US$1 billion revenue target.
The delegation, which arrived in Sierra Leone on Saturday, September 13, 2025, received a warm welcome at the border town of Jendema. The reception, which included cultural performances and cordial greetings, reflected the strong ties between the two nations.
NRA Customs Manager Mujiru I. I. Kallon, speaking on behalf of Commissioner General Jeneba Bangura, highlighted the long-standing cooperation between Liberia and Sierra Leone. “As Africans, we should be our brothers’ keepers, and Liberia has consistently demonstrated that to Sierra Leone,” he said.
In response, CG Jallah expressed his gratitude. “We feel at home; we are one family. A success for Sierra Leone is a success for Liberia, and vice versa. This warm reception reflects not only the bonds of friendship between our institutions but also the enduring spirit of solidarity that unites our nations,” he said.
Hosted by the NRA, the WATAF forum runs from September 15–19, 2025. The event brings together tax officials, experts, and partners from across West Africa to discuss strategies for enhancing and simplifying revenue collection to foster sustainable development across the region.