Monrovia, Liberia – Over 60 Customs officers, mostly examiners who are essential to the Liberia Revenue Authority’s (LRA) operations, have finished a week-long capacity-building and refresher training conducted by the LRA’s Customs Department.
In order to ensure adherence to customs laws and regulations, customs examiners are in charge of examining and evaluating items that are being imported into or exported from Liberia. They play a crucial role in maintaining the required income for the nation while striking a balance between enforcing customs laws and promoting the seamless operation of international trade.
The goal of the recent refresher session in Ganta, Nimba County, was to bring examiners up to date on current customs procedures and processes. In order to keep updated when interacting with taxpayers, the officers received training on how to use LRA communication channels.
The 60 participants, who were selected from different ports and borders around Liberia, were briefed on the most recent developments in customs procedures, technology, and processes. These resources are intended to improve their operational effectiveness and guarantee that they are current with contemporary customs procedures.
Attorney William L. Buku, Assistant Commissioner for Customs Policy and Technical Operations, spoke at the occasion and emphasized the value of educating customs personnel about international customs standards. “This training is crucial to keeping our officers’ knowledge current and bringing them into line with contemporary customs policies and procedures. “Our ability to effectively regulate international trade must change along with it,” Buku said.
The training is part of a broader initiative by the Customs Department to enhance the skills of all of its workers. Similar training sessions were previously conducted for new customs officers and senior rural port collectors to ensure that all aspects of customs operations are ready to meet the demands of cross-border compliance and trade.
As Liberia focuses on expanding international trade and improving tax collection, this training is seen to be crucial to improving the department’s capacity to manage the increasing volume and complexity of trade. By continuously supporting its employees, the Customs Department is expected to improve the efficiency of trade facilitation while maintaining compliance with both national and international regulations.
The training was led by Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh, Manager for Communication, Media, and Public Affairs Section; Edwin F. Kendema, Assistant Commissioner for Rural Ports; and William L. Buku, Assistant Commissioner for Customs Policy and Technical Operations.
