LRA, MFDP Conclude Domestic Resource Mobilization Strategy Validation Workshop In Grand Gedeh County

By Paul G Rancy, LINA Grand Gedeh County

The Liberia Revenue Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has ended a 2 - day workshop on Domestic Resource Mobilization Strategy #2 (2024 - 2028) external validation in Grand Gedeh County.

The Regional exercise brought together stakeholders in four southeastern counties including River Gee, Maryland, Grand Gedeh and Grand Kru counties. Participants included County service center coordinators, superintendents, heads of businesses, civil society heads, the media amongst others.

Providing the overview at the opening of the workshop, Mr. Ambrose Bonney, the Manager of Domestic Task Reform at the LRA disclosed that the workshop is aimed at seeking validation from citizens on the Domestic Resource Mobilization Strategy, citing “There are different categories of people that will review the strategy which will run from 2024 to 2028, such as those currently attending the workshop in the county,”

Bonney also noted that because of lack of adequate information to the public on tax payment, people are reluctant on complying.

He stated that the engagement is a continuous process geared towards educating citizens on the different kinds of tax policies as well as the effectiveness of tax system.

He assured the participants of the forum that every suggestion, recommendations and ideas that will be drawn from the workshop will be filtered into the LRA tax system.

For his part, Prince Nelson, the Director of Direct Tax at the MFDP disclosed that his institution is responsible to handle policy making of all tax laws and regulations, citing that policies are not made in isolation of the implementers.

He mentioned that policy making has taken different trends, disclosing that Liberia has self-declaration regime where people declare their taxes to government and pay them.

With the ongoing event, Nelson said, LRA and MFDP are taking policy making to the public where taxpayers will be part of the policy making.

He said these activities aligned with the aims and objectives of the Domestic Resource Mobilization Strategy Validation.

According to him, the exercise is done in a regional format, Grand Gedeh brought together Maryland, Grand Kru, River Gee and Grand Gedeh County, and Nimba brought together Lofa, Bong and Nimba, while the Western Region and Grand Bassa counties respectively.

Making remarks on behalf of the participants at the close of the workshop, Moses Williams, a Religious Leader from River Gee County commended the LRA and MFDP for the laudable initiatives.

He mentioned that lots have been learned during the period in terms of tax payment, tax policies and regulating their businesses.

However, Williams recommended that the LRA should include county staff in subsequent activities so that they can effectively and efficiently participate in the development of tax policies for the betterment of the process.

The event in Grand Gedeh County began on Monday September 2, 2024, and ended Tuesday September 3, 2024, with over 50 participants in attendance.