Concludes Consultation With Stakeholders In 8 Counties
PHOTO: Partial view of stakeholders of the DRM consultation in Gbarnga City, Bong County
Monrovia, Liberia– The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), has successfully concluded a four-day validation workshop on the country’s draft Domestic Resource Mobilization (DRM) Strategy for 2024–2029, the LRA said in a press release on Thursday, September 12, 2024.
This regional workshop, held in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh and Gbarnga, Bong County, brought together over 100 stakeholders from eight southeastern and central counties, including River Gee, Maryland, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Bong, Margibi, and Grand Kru. Participants included county service center coordinators, superintendents, business leaders, civil society organizations, students, traditional chiefs, and youth representatives, among others.
The engagements focused on gathering key insights, suggestions, and recommendations from participants to enhance domestic revenue mobilization. Discussions centered on reducing compliance costs, identifying new revenue streams, and improving the overall domestic revenue base.
The draft DRM Strategy outlines the Liberia’s approach, through the LRA, to increasing revenue, minimizing losses, and enhancing tax compliance and public awareness. Once fully validated and adopted, the strategy will guide domestic resource mobilization efforts for the next five years, from 2024 to 2029.
Some participants of the DRM Strategy engagements in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County
Ambrose Bonney, Manager of Domestic Tax Modernization and Reform at the LRA, stated that the primary goal of the workshop was to engage citizens and gather their input on various aspects of the draft DRM Strategy. According to Mr. Bonney, these engagements provide taxpayers with a platform to offer suggestions for improving tax compliance and awareness mechanisms.
The feedback and recommendations gathered during the workshops will be reviewed and considered at the national level before the strategy is finalized and adopted as Liberia’s domestic resource mobilization blueprint for the next five years.
Prince Nelson, Director of the Direct Tax Unit at MFDP, emphasized the significance of the DRM Strategy as a key document that will drive government’s activities across Liberia. He noted that the partnership between the LRA and MFDP is aimed at ensuring that Liberians have a voice in how domestic revenue is collected and the strategies employed for revenue generation.
Moses Williams, a religious leader from River Gee County, commended the LRA and MFDP for reaching out to communities and incorporating their suggestions into the DRM Strategy. He highlighted the knowledge gained by participants regarding tax policies, payment procedures, and regulations.
The validation workshops in Grand Gedeh and Bong Counties are part of a nationwide consultation process. The team is expected to visit other regions, including Grand Bassa and Bomi Counties, engaging stakeholders and participants from surrounding areas in further discussions on the strategy.