Buchanan, Liberia– A team from the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) headquarters, comprising Customs, Communications, and Taxpayer Education units, conducted a one-day knowledge-sharing engagement Wednesday, January 8, with customs officers assigned to the Port of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, a press release from LRA said on Wednesday, January 8, 2025
The initiative aimed to enhance the officers’ skills and performance in executing their revenue collection duties effectively.
Organized under the auspices of the Customs Modernization Unit, the engagement centered on emerging customs issues and ongoing automation processes, with updates on the ASYCUDA World system.
This exercise aligns with LRA’s strategic move to modernize operations, bolstered by the deployment of Starlink internet devices across Customs and Tax Business Offices nationwide.
Participants benefited from specialized sessions led by Communication Manager D. Kaihenneh Sengbeh and Taxpayer Services Division Senior Officer Martina Brooks. These sessions focused on effective taxpayer engagement, particularly with importers and cross-border
traders, equipping customs officers with essential communication and customer service skills to enhance domestic resource mobilization.
Additionally, Bazzie Akoi, Supervisor of the ASYCUDA Functional Team, facilitated practical sessions on the processing and collection of customs revenue using the LRA’s upgraded digital platforms.
Mr. William Gegeh, Manager for Customs Modernization, highlighted the significance of these engagements in equipping customs officers with the tools and knowledge to excel.
“Unofficially, the Customs Department exceeded its revenue target in 2024, and this ongoing engagement is part of our efforts to sustain and build on that success,” Mr. Gegeh stated. “We are committed to achieving similar feats as we work towards meeting the 2025 target.”
He assured participants that similar engagements would be conducted at other Customs Business Offices nationwide to further enhance the department’s collective capacity. Mr. Gegeh also encouraged customs staff to remain diligent and committed in supporting Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah and the LRA senior management in achieving the ambitious billion-dollar revenue collection milestone in the coming years.
The LRA continues to prioritize workforce empowerment and operational modernization as part of its broader mandate to drive domestic resource mobilization and national development.