Monrovia, Liberia – In order to honor and thank the nation’s most exceptional taxpayers for their commitment to tax payment and compliance throughout the fiscal years 2022 and 2023, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has given out 113 different awards.
These taxpayers received recognition for their outstanding efforts, which included the greatest tax payments and continuous adherence to the law. As a token of gratitude, each receiver received a one-year tax clearing certificate along with special recognition.
The 2022 Gold Award for the Nation’s Highest Tax Contributor went to ArcelorMittal Liberia Limited, while the 2023 award went to Bea Mountain Mining Corporation Inc.
In 2022, IVANHOE Liberia Limited won the Silver Award, and in 2023, ArcelorMittal Liberia Limited did the same. As the third-highest donors in 2022 and 2023, respectively, Bea Mountain Mining Corporation Inc. and Orange Liberia were recognized with the Bronze Award.
In 2022, Ecobank Liberia Limited was named the Large Tax Division’s most compliant taxpayer; in 2023, Chicri Brothers Inc. received the same honor. For both years, Firestone Liberia received the prize for the natural resource sector’s most compliant taxpayer. The Medium Tax Division’s top compliant taxpayers for 2022 and 2023 were Home Depot Stores and CHEEMA & CHAHAL Inc., while the Small Tax Division’s best compliant taxpayers were Trust Service Company and Easy Solar.
Jean Brother Business Center was named the 2022 highest compliant taxpayer in the Petty Traders category, while Ishmeal N. Bah was named the 2023 highest compliance taxpayer. For both years, Firestone Liberia was the largest contributor in the real estate category.
In 2022 and 2023, respectively, Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung and Emmanuel L. Shaw II were recognized for having the most compliant residential real estate. For both years, Momolu V. Dukuly Sirleaf/CEMENCO received recognition as the most compliant real estate (industrial) taxpayer.
For 2022 and 2023, the Ministry of Mines and Energy was recognized as the government ministry that contributed the most taxes. Samaritan’s Purse won the 2023 award for being the most compliant international NGO, followed by the Carter Center in 2022.
During both years, the Catholic Education Secretariat was acknowledged as the most compliant educational establishment. Ecobank Liberia Limited was also recognized for collecting the most taxes and for being the bank with the greatest LITAS compliance. Among mobile money providers, MTN-Liberia Mobile Money was recognized for collecting the most tax amount.
For both years, A-Z Corporation was acknowledged as the top merchandise provider in the Customs area. For 2022 and 2023, Conex Energy Liberia was named the top petroleum contributor, followed by Petro Trade in second position. In 2022, Sunny Brothers Inc. was named the top importer, and in 2023, Sethi Brothers Inc. was named the top importer. In both years, Nimba County was named the Leeward County with the largest contribution to customs income, with Grand Cape Mount County coming in second. For both years, ArcelorMittal Liberia Limited was recognized as the concessionaire that paid the highest customs tax.
Scholastica Nyenkan-Nimey, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, commended the recipients for their dedication to tax payment at the awards event and underlined the significance of compliance from organizations, enterprises, and property owners throughout Liberia.
James Dorbor Jallah, the commissioner general of the LRA, praised the taxpayers for their contributions to the national revenue, which funds Liberia’s development initiatives. He emphasized how technology may improve tax collection and economic stability while restating the LRA’s commitment to hitting the $1 billion revenue milestone.
Marcus S. Wleh, Head of Sustainability and External Relations at AML, spoke on behalf of ArcelorMittal Liberia. He thanked the LRA for recognizing taxpayers and emphasized the role that tax compliance plays in promoting national progress. Additionally, he affirmed the company’s ongoing commitment to fulfilling its tax duties and praised the Liberian government for fostering an atmosphere that allows businesses to flourish.
With the theme “Pay Tax We All Enjoy,” this year’s Taxpayer Appreciation Awards were hosted on November 22, 2024, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
The event, organized in collaboration with the USAID-LEAD Activity and InfoQuest, brought together taxpayers, government officials, partners, and stakeholders. This year’s activities, for the first time, included a donation to orphans in Margibi, the inaugural Student Tax Day and Debate, an awards dinner, and a sporting and entertainment event held on Saturday to conclude the celebration.
Launched in 2017, the LRA’s annual Taxpayer Appreciation Awards program seeks to recognize and appreciate taxpayers for fulfilling their obligations, motivate them to remain compliant, and inspire others to contribute to the nation’s development through tax payments.
