Published: July 17, 2025
MONROVIA – The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has become the first government institution in Liberia to achieve 100% staff compliance with asset declaration requirements, marking a major step in the country’s fight against corruption and abuse of public funds.
The milestone was announced Wednesday, July 16, during a joint press conference in Paynesville, where LRA Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah and Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe praised the breakthrough as both a regulatory achievement and a bold institutional message.
“This is not just a statistical accomplishment,” CG Jallah declared. “It is a clear demonstration of our institutional commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity in public service. At the LRA, we understand that protecting Liberia’s revenue begins with protecting our values.”
He emphasized that while achieving full compliance is significant, the next phase—verification—is critical. Jallah announced that the LRA and LACC will now begin cross-checking asset declarations through a rigorous audit process, including lifestyle assessments.
“If any LRA staff is found to be living beyond their lawful means—especially through questionable property acquisition—they will be made to account in line with the law,” Jallah warned. “Our integrity safeguards revenue. That is why we will continue working with the LACC to ensure every declaration is not only filed but also credible.”
LACC Applauds LRA’s Bold Leadership
In her remarks, LACC Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe commended the LRA’s top-to-bottom leadership for taking decisive action to promote integrity from within.
“This proactive action underscores the LRA’s resolve to set the standard in integrity, not just as an enforcement institution but as an example of ethical leadership in the public sector,” Zoe said. “Integrity is not a slogan—it is a behavior, a deliberate and consistent action that must begin within the walls of our institutions.”
Zoe stressed that the LRA’s move signifies a broader cultural shift in public service—one that elevates ethical conduct as a foundation for governance and accountability.
She added that the LRA’s achievement aligns with Section 10 of the National Code of Conduct, which mandates asset declarations by public officials and employees to help prevent abuse of power and illicit enrichment.
An Internal Policy with National Impact
While the current LACC Act does not mandate every employee within a public institution to declare assets, the LRA voluntarily adopted such a policy in 2016. Under a Board-approved resolution, all LRA employees—regardless of position—were required to file asset declarations with the LACC.
Though the decision was made nearly a decade ago, this year marks the first time it has been fully implemented across the institution’s workforce.
As part of the framework agreement between the two agencies, the LACC is empowered to investigate and prosecute corruption involving LRA staff or contractors, access all declarations, and carry out verification and lifestyle audits on appointed and non-appointed personnel.
“By aligning with the LACC and adhering to this framework,” Jallah said, “the LRA is not only enforcing the law but also modeling integrity as a revenue protection strategy.”
Call for Institutional Replication
CG Jallah used the occasion to urge other public institutions—especially those involved in governance, oversight, and service delivery—to follow the LRA’s example. He stressed that true reform begins with leadership by example.
“The LRA’s breakthrough sends a strong message that institutional integrity is possible—and necessary—for good governance and public trust,” he said.
The press conference ended with a unified appeal to all government entities to embrace asset declaration as more than a bureaucratic formality—but a vital tool in restoring accountability and trust in Liberia’s democratic institutions.
“This is what institutional leadership looks like,” Cllr. Zoe concluded. “It’s time for all agencies to step up.”
Discussion about this post