PHOTO: Morris A. D. Sambola, Manager for Beneficial Ownership at the Liberia Business Registry (LBR)
Liberia’s determined efforts to shed light on who truly owns and controls companies were showcased recently on a global stage, earning international acclaim as a model for other nations to follow.
At the Open Extractives Programme Global Peer Learning Exchange held from November 17-18, 2025, a Liberian delegation detailed the country’s significant strides in implementing Beneficial Ownership (BO) transparency, a key tool in the fight against corruption, illicit financial flows, and tax evasion.
The forum focused on the impact of the OE programme over the last five years globally, its progress, current status, and the path forward. Those engagements were rewarding with key stakeholders and international partners, reaffirming Liberia’s commitment to driving its obligations on the implementation of Beneficial Ownership Transparency (BOT).
Open Extractives Programme Global Peer Learning Exchange forum
Morris A. D. Sambola, Manager for Beneficial Ownership at the Liberia Business Registry (LBR), who was part of the delegation, expressed optimism about the progress. “Despite difficulties with resources and capacity, our partners and co-implementing countries were highly impressed with Liberia’s progress so far,” Sambola stated.
“They encouraged other countries to copy Liberia’s BO implementation road map. It was an intense but rewarding few weeks of engagement, and we return with valuable lessons to build on.”
The delegation, which included representatives from the Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (LEITI), Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and the Ministry of Mines and Energy, presented key highlights of Liberia’s journey, including:
- The establishment of a dedicated Beneficial Ownership (BO) office at the LBR.
- The ongoing manual collection of BO data.
- The advanced stage of a new BO online portal, which is currently in user testing to ensure it meets national laws and international standards.
- The practical use of BO data by authorities, as seen in the latest LEITI report.
- A recent presidential mandate making BO a national priority.
- Liberia’s selection for a Training-of-Trainer’s pilot project to ensure local expertise is sustained.
Looking ahead, Manager Sambola outlined the critical next steps for Liberia: “Our focus is now on operationalizing the online system for public access, enforcing compliance, and integrating BO requirements into all key processes like procurement and licensing. The ultimate goal is to put in place a permanent mechanism to ensure the sustainability of Beneficial Ownership Transparency in Liberia.”
Meanwhile, the Liberian delegation extended special thanks to international partners, Opening Extractives and Open Ownership, as well as key national stakeholders including Chairman JeffreyYates, Hon. Patience B. Randall, Registry General, Liberia Business Registry (LBR), and officials from the Financial Intelligence Agency of Liberia (FIA), LEITI, LRA, Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), and LPRA.