The Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), James Dorbor Jallah, has outlined strategic priorities as he leads an LRA delegation to participate in the 7th High-Level Policy Dialogue and General Assembly of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Jallah told his team on Sunday, September 14, ahead of the official opening, the importance of the learning from regional counterparts and drawing from their practical experiences to strengthen its work.
He encouraged LRA delegates to take advantage of networking opportunities, noting that the connections built during such events often bring lasting value beyond the formal conference resolutions.
Mr. Jallah further urged the team to strategically position themselves during the sessions to actively engage in the discussions on contemporary tax issues.
He called for careful listening, full participation, and detailed note-taking that would help the LRA to identify new opportunities and approaches that could be applied back home.
The LRA team comprises staff from Domestic Tax, Customs and other critical divisions of the Authority.
Mr. Jallah disclosed plans for bilateral engagements with the National Revenue Authority (NRA) of Sierra Leone to include meetings with technical counterparts.
He said while the Authority has developed strong capacities, there is still much to learn from fellow West African authorities whose daily experiences provide real-world lessons, often more relevant than the “textbook accounts” presented by partners from outside the continent.
Jallah said the LRA delegation was attending the WATAF meetings to strengthen collaboration; deepen partnerships, and tap into regional expertise that will help Liberia achieve its ambitious US$1 billion revenue target.
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, the delegation received a rousing welcome at the Sierra Leonean border town of Jendema, en route to the Dialogue.
“As Africans, we should be our brothers’ keepers, which Liberia has demonstrated to Sierra Leone,” a Sierra Leonean said in his welcome remark.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jallah expressed gratitude for the reception, stating: “We feel at home; we are all one family. A success for Sierra Leone means a success for Liberia, and a success for Liberia equally means a success for Sierra Leone.”
He noted that the warm reception from the Sierra Leoneans reflects not only the bonds of friendship between the two institutions, but also the enduring spirit of sisterly solidarity that unites Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The weeklong WATAF event, hosted by the NRA from September 15–19, 2025, brings together tax officials, experts, and partners from across West Africa to deliberate on strategies for strengthening and simplifying revenue collection to foster development across the region.