Monrovia, Liberia – A delegation from the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) headquarters, consisting of Customs, Communications, and Taxpayer Education departments, met with customs officers assigned to the Port of Buchanan in Grand Bassa County on Wednesday, January 8, for a one-day knowledge exchange session.
The effort sought to improve the officers’ abilities and performance in carrying out their tax collecting responsibilities successfully. The engagement, organized by the Customs Modernization Unit, focused on new customs concerns and continuing automation procedures, as well as ASYCUDA World system changes.
This initiative is consistent with the LRA’s strategic commitment to modernize operations, which has been supported by the deployment of Starlink internet devices across Customs and Tax Business Offices nationwide.
Participants benefited from specialized sessions led by Communication Manager D. Kaihenneh Sengbeh and Taxpayer Services Division Senior Officer Martina Brooks. These sessions focused on effective taxpayer engagement, particularly with importers and cross-border traders, equipping customs officers with essential communication and customer service skills to enhance domestic resource mobilization.
Bazzie Akoi, Supervisor of the ASYCUDA Functional Team, also led practical workshops on how to process and collect customs income utilizing the LRA’s updated digital systems.
Mr. William Gegeh, Manager for Customs Modernization, emphasised the importance of these engagements in providing customs personnel with the necessary tools and skills to flourish.
“Unofficially, the Customs Department exceeded its revenue target in 2024, and this ongoing engagement is part of our efforts to sustain and build on that success,” says Mr. Gegeh. “We are committed to achieving similar feats as we work towards meeting the 2025 target.”
He promised the attendees that similar interactions will take place at other Customs Business Offices around the country to strengthen the department’s collective capabilities. Mr. Gegeh also urged customs officers to stay vigilant and dedicated to assisting Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah and LRA top management in meeting the ambitious billion-dollar revenue collection target in the coming years.
The LRA continues to pursue staff empowerment and operational modernization as part of its larger responsibility to achieve domestic resource mobilization and national development.
