Sets New Integrity Standard in Public Sector.
RELEASE
Paynesville, Montserrado – The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has completed the required disclosure of assets, an attempt to uphold integrity and safeguard public funds, making it the first government agency in Liberia to achieve this compliance milestone.
At a press conference held in Paynesville on Wednesday, July 16, along with Cllr. Alexandra Zoe, Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), LRA Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah talked about the accomplishment as a strong institutional statement as well as a regulatory success.
“This milestone is not just a statistical accomplishment,” CG Jallah said. “It is a clear demonstration of our institutional commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity in public service. At the LRA, we understand that protecting Liberia’s revenue begins with protecting our values.”
The Commissioner General emphasized that accountability and verification, the next stage of this program, are equally important. He said that the LRA will mobilize resources to start a comprehensive process of confirming all asset declarations, followed by lifestyle audits, in partnership with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC).
“Any LRA employees who are discovered to be living above their legal means, particularly through dubious property acquisition, will be held accountable in accordance with the law,” CG Jallah underlined. “Our honesty safeguards revenue. We will therefore continue collaborating with the LACC to guarantee that each declaration is not just submitted but also believable.”
“The LRA is not only enforcing the law but also modeling integrity as a revenue protection strategy by aligning with the LACC and adhering to this framework,” CG Jallah stated. He urged other government agencies to follow the LRA’s lead, particularly those engaged in governance and service provision.
LACC Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe praised the LRA’s courageous leadership in her remarks for requiring and obtaining complete asset disclosure compliance for all employees.
As an example of moral leadership in the public sector as well as an enforcement agency, Madam Zoe said, “This proactive action underscores the LRA’s commitment to set the standard in integrity. Integrity is not a slogan, she stated. It is an activity, a purposeful, persistent conduct that has to start inside our institutions.”
“The LRA’s action sends a clear message that public service is a public trust, ethical leadership is possible, and the LRA is proving that,” she said, adding that LRA compliance is not just about enforcement but also a culture transformation in governance.“
She added that the action is in accordance with Section 10 of the National Code of Conduct, which requires workers and public officials to disclose their assets and interests. This clause is intended to maintain integrity in all aspects of government operations.
The agreement gives the LACC the authority to look into and prosecute corruption involving LRA officials, employees, contractors, or affiliates; access all asset declarations submitted by LRA workers; and ensure that both appointed and non-appointed LRA staffs have made accurate declarations. The LRA’s ethical responsibilities are guaranteed to be not just policy-based but also open to outside validation and legal examination owing to this well-organized collaboration.
The LRA’s perseverance and determination to institutionalize ethics from the top down is evident in the fact that this policy was only fully implemented recently, even though it was enacted more than eight years ago.
