The awareness campaign, which began in Montserrado County, targets staff across Tax and Customs Business Offices nationwide. It aims to deepen employees’ understanding of the Authority’s strategic direction and encourage institution-wide participation in implementing the five-year reform agenda.

Recently approved by the LRA Board of Directors, the Corporate Strategic Plan 2025–2029 provides a roadmap for transforming Liberia’s revenue administration system through digital innovation, institutional capacity building, improved taxpayer services, and enhanced operational efficiency.

The strategy is built around five major pillars, including strengthening revenue administration systems, promoting voluntary tax compliance through taxpayer education and reduced compliance costs, enhancing institutional capacity and staff professionalism, improving data-driven service delivery through digital transformation, and expanding partnerships to support efficient and transparent tax administration.

The plan also seeks to increase Liberia’s tax-to-GDP ratio, modernize revenue administration processes, and support the transition to a Value-Added Tax (VAT) regime as part of broader national efforts to stimulate economic growth and improve public service delivery.

Speaking during one of the awareness sessions, Joseph A. Zeze, Supervisor for Strategic Planning within the PSSPD, said the implementation of the strategic plan reflects the LRA’s commitment to building a modern, efficient, and responsive revenue administration capable of meeting Liberia’s growing economic and fiscal demands.

For his part, Acting Manager of the PSSPD, Mohammed M. Jallibah, emphasized the importance of ensuring that all staff fully understand the objectives of the Corporate Strategic Plan and their responsibilities in achieving its goals.

“The training is intended to ensure that every staff member clearly understands the Corporate Strategic Plan and their role in its successful implementation,” Jallibah stated.

He noted that full staff participation remains essential to achieving the Authority’s vision of a modern and service-oriented tax administration system. According to him, the initiative also forms part of the LRA’s broader institutional transformation agenda aimed at improving operational efficiency, transparency, accountability, professionalism, and taxpayer service delivery.

Also speaking, Madam Faith B. George, Senior Collector at the Cardwell Tax Business Office on Bushrod Island, underscored the importance of continuous professional development in strengthening domestic revenue mobilization and encouraging voluntary tax compliance among citizens and businesses.

The awareness campaign is being implemented by the PSSPD in collaboration with the Human Resources Division, the Enterprise Design, Quality Assurance and Results Division (EDQARD), and the Communication, Media and Public Affairs Section, among others. The campaign will continue across additional LRA offices and counties ahead of the official launch of the Corporate Strategic Plan 2025–2029 later this year.

The post Lra Begins Nationwide Awareness Campaigning On New Strategic Plan appeared first on Liberia News Network.

MONROVIA – The President of the Publishers Association of Liberia (PAL) and the publisher of Heritage Newspaper departed the country over weekend for the second edition of the Paris Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping in Francophone Environments.

Mr. Alphonso Toweh and Mr. Kanneh will join other distinguished panelists and journalists drawn from different parts of the Continent for the global gathering slated to be held May 20, 2026 in Rabat, Morocco.

The Rabat Conference takes place a decade after the first Paris ministerial conference on peacekeeping in Francophone environments held in Paris, France in 2016.

According to organizers, it is being convened to address what organizers call a fundamental transformation in the conflicts where peacekeepers operate.

According to Conference draft concept note, the meeting is a response to “acute political and security instability” in complex environments, particularly across Africa, where most UN peacekeeping missions are deployed.

The document records how peacekeeping missions now face with disruptive technologies, the proliferation of disinformation, and the impact of climate change.

It added that “Organized crime has also expanded in affected regions, further complicating mandates.”

“These transformations have revealed the limitations of existing peacekeeping operation frameworks, creating an increasing gap between planning frameworks and field operations,” the note states.

The result, organizers say, is a need to strengthen anticipation, adaptation, and performance capabilities to better align mission mandates, troop capacities, and realities on the ground. “The process is meant to follow commitments made under the UN’s Pact for the Future and ongoing mandate rationalization efforts,” the note further captured.

It is stated that Francophone countries play a central role in current peacekeeping, with nearly 20,000 military and police personnel deployed, mostly in Africa.

The conference aims to mobilize renewed commitment from the international community and the Francophonie to ensure affected territories move toward peace, security, and development.

According to the note, efforts to strengthen peacekeeping have included increasing the participation of women in leadership and field roles.

Citing UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the note says female participation in peacekeeping rose from 4.9% in 2010 to 10.1% in 2025, though it stresses the need to accelerate progress.

“The primary goal of the May 2026 meeting is to give Francophone countries a platform to develop a common understanding of current challenges and contribute more effectively to multilateral debates in international bodies,” the note said.

the objective of the conference include, providing an updated assessment of peacekeeping in Francophone environments and identifying emerging and persistent threats, prioritizing pre-deployment training to improve performance and results on the ground, and promoting more inclusive participation in peacekeeping operations.

Organizers said the conference will open with a ministerial segment and three panel discussions focused on the current status of missions and emerging threats; training as a driver of performance against multi-dimensional threats; and partnerships to reinforce state commitment to security imperatives.

Organizers expect the meeting to conclude with the adoption of the Paris Declaration, alongside a summary of panel discussions and contributions from participants.

The conference builds on the 2016 Paris meeting, which first brought Francophone countries together to address the specific challenges of operating in French-speaking conflict zones.

“With missions now operating in more volatile and complex settings, Paris 2026 is positioned as a push to close the gap between UN mandates and operational reality,” the note read..

Mr. TOWEH said the Liberian media is gradually drowning and it is about time to build partnerships, seek for opportunities from friendly nations .

“This is not about capacity building alone,, but practical improvement that will elevate the media to a much better level in the supreme interest of the country,’ Mr. TOWEH said .

The post Publishers Association President Leaves For Morocco appeared first on Liberia News Network.

The one-day exercise, organized by the Policy, Statistics, and Strategic Planning Division (PSSPD) in collaboration with the Enterprise Design, Quality Assurance, and Results Division (EDQARD), brought together designated Focal Persons from various departments, divisions, and sections across the Authority.

The training forms part of the LRA’s broader commitment to improving institutional efficiency, evidence-based planning, transparency, and service delivery in revenue administration.

Participants were equipped with technical guidance, reporting templates, and practical tools required to support enterprise planning, work plan implementation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation activities within their respective offices.

The exercise is intended to ensure a structured and comprehensive assessment of the implementation progress of the corporate strategic plan during its first year.

The designated focal persons are expected to begin engagements with various departments and divisions to facilitate data gathering and validation through the review of work plans and M&E reports. The process will support the compilation of key performance indicators and institutional assessment metrics aimed at evaluating progress across the authority.

Speaking during the exercise, Mohammed M. Jallibah, acting manager for Policy, Statistics, and Strategic Planning Division, emphasized the importance of the assessment in strengthening institutional performance and accountability.

“This exercise is important because it helps the authority measure progress, identify gaps, and improve institutional performance in line with national and international standards.” Jallibah stated.

He noted that the assessment serves as a critical benchmark under both the Tax Administration Diagnostic Assessment Tool (TADAT) framework and the Performance Management Service Contract (PMSC) framework used by the Office of the President to evaluate corporate governance and institutional performance across public entities, including the LRA.

Additionally, the assessment is expected to generate evidence-based insights, strengthen decision-making processes, and support the identification of performance gaps requiring strategic intervention.

The exercise will continue over the coming weeks as the authority advances efforts to evaluate implementation outcomes and strengthen institutional effectiveness under the corporate strategic plan.

The initiative reflects the Liberia Revenue Authority’s growing emphasis on performance-based management, institutional accountability, and continuous improvement in support of national development and effective public revenue administration.

The post Lra Strengthens Institutional Performance Monitoring Through Strategic Plan Assessment Exercise appeared first on Liberia News Network.

The one-day regional dialogue was held on Monday, May 11, during the Sixth Legislature’s 2026 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, Nigeria. It brought together ECOWAS lawmakers, tax administrators, WATAF and TJNA experts, development partners, and regional stakeholders to examine practical policy and legislative solutions to strengthen fiscal governance across the region.

Speaking at the opening of the engagement on behalf of WATAF Executive Secretary, Jules Tapsoba, WATAF Communication and IT Manager, Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh, stressed that the dialogue was not merely about taxation, but about “sovereignty, fairness, accountability, and the future we seek to build for the people of West Africa.”

He stated that governments across West Africa continue to face growing pressure to finance infrastructure, healthcare, education, climate resilience, security, and opportunities for the region’s rapidly growing youth population, while illicit financial flows, fragmented tax systems, weak transparency frameworks, and emerging digital economy challenges continue to undermine domestic revenue mobilization.

“At WATAF, we firmly believe that effective tax systems are not merely instruments for revenue collection, but instruments for nation building, economic justice, and public trust,” he stated.

Sengbeh further underscored the indispensable role of Parliamentarians in strengthening legislative oversight, supporting regional tax reforms, promoting accountability, and advancing public confidence in fiscal governance systems across the region.

Providing an overview of the session, WATAF Research Manager, Dr. Sidnoma Nita, highlighted the importance of translating existing ECOWAS tax directives and transparency frameworks into effective implementation across Member States.

Dr. Nita noted that the challenge facing the region is no longer the absence of frameworks, but the transition from commitments to implementation.

She explained that the Parliamentary Session aimed to strengthen awareness and engagement of lawmakers on regional tax harmonization, illicit financial flows, and sustainable domestic revenue mobilization while promoting mutual learning and stronger regional cooperation.

The Parliamentary Tax Session focused on key issues including operationalizing ECOWAS tax directives, transfer pricing, VAT harmonization, digital taxation, beneficial ownership transparency, exchange of information, extractive sector taxation, fiscal governance, and financing sustainable development.

Technical presentations were delivered by WATAF and TJNA experts including Mr. Jonas Igwe on Operationalizing ECOWAS Tax Directives for Domestic Resource Mobilization and Regional Tax Harmonization; Dr. Zandile Ndebele on Addressing Tax Related Illicit Financial Flows through Legislative Frameworks and Transparency Measures; and John Thomi on Fiscal Governance, Extractive Taxation and Financing Sustainable Development in ECOWAS.

The discussions also highlighted the Anti IFF Policy Tracker developed by the African Union Commission and TJNA, which has been piloted in several ECOWAS Member States including Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Liberia to assess legal, institutional, data, and inter agency mechanisms used to combat illicit financial flows.

WATAF and TJNA experts noted that Africa continues to lose billions of United States dollars annually through illicit financial flows, particularly within the extractive sector, thereby weakening the continent’s ability to finance infrastructure, healthcare, education, and broader development priorities.

During the engagement, lawmakers actively participated in discussions and raised concerns regarding cross border trade, taxation of multinational corporations, informal sector taxation, extractive industry governance, artificial intelligence in revenue administration, donor dependency, and the protection of Africa’s taxing rights.

Several lawmakers emphasized the need for stronger regional cooperation, enhanced information sharing, improved tax transparency systems, and more effective legislative oversight mechanisms to combat illicit financial flows across the region.

The experts maintained that stronger regional coordination, technology driven tax administration systems, enhanced transparency frameworks, and coordinated legislative reforms remain essential to improving domestic revenue mobilization and strengthening accountability outcomes across West Africa.

Speaking at the close of the session, Fourth Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Billay G. Tunkara, commended WATAF for its steadfast role in strengthening tax administrations and advancing regional tax cooperation across West Africa.

He praised WATAF Executive Secretary, Jules Tapsoba, and TJNA for assembling a strong team of technical experts whose presentations enriched discussions and provided lawmakers with valuable and practical policy insights.

Hon. Tunkara emphasized that African countries must increasingly broaden their tax bases and mobilize internal resources rather than relying heavily on borrowing and external support.

He further called on ECOWAS Member States to strengthen regional integration, ratify and domesticate regional tax directives, and support coordinated reforms aimed at promoting sustainable and self-reliant economies across West Africa.

The Parliamentary Session forms part of West African Tax Administration Forum’s broader mandate to strengthen tax administration systems, promote regional cooperation, and support sustainable domestic revenue mobilization across West Africa.

 About WATAF

The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) is a regional body that brings together tax administrations across West Africa to strengthen domestic resource mobilization through cooperation, capacity development, and knowledge sharing. WATAF plays a leading role in shaping regional tax policy dialogue and supporting the modernization and harmonization of tax systems in line with regional and international standards.

The post Wataf, Tjna Convene Tax Dialogue At Ecowas Parliament – Seek Regional Tax Harmonisation & Revenue Boost For West Africa appeared first on Liberia News Network.

It is highly unfortunate and ridiculous for the chairman of the National Youth Congress of the ruling party to call for the removal of the Justice Minister based on the assumption that a “non-guilty” verdict for former Finance & Development Planning Minister, Mr. Samuel Tweah, is a failure on the part of the Minister of Justice in the fight against corruption. This assertion tends to credence to the already existing perception by some citizens, especially members of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) that the US$6.2million case was intended to target Mr. Tweah. Mr. Cephas’ unwarranted assertions also undermine the integrity of national institutions and threaten the progress of the ongoing rule of law reforms being initiated by the leadership of Cllr. Tweh at the Ministry of Justice.

The Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia wonders as to how the youth leader of the ruling party could hold the Minister of Justice responsible for a verdict rendered by jurors, ordinary Liberians who were selected to rule in the US$6.2million case. It is highly foolhardy and ludicrous for Melvin Cephas and his likes to blame Justice Minister Oswald Tweh for a Jury verdict, especially when the very verdict essentially justified the prosecution indictment that US$6.2million was corrupted and stolen.  The guilty verdict for former Security Advisor, Jefferson Kammoh, former Acting Justice Minister, Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, and former Finance Intelligence Agency Director, Stanley Ford, shows that the government won the corruption case. Mr. Cephas and some members of the Unity Party who seem ignorant of the laws has to understand that political advocacy should be based on factual evidence and respect for the independence of the judiciary rather than promotion of personal or political agendas of a party.

COYSBL sees it as even more evil in nature and gravely despicable for the UP Montserrado County Youth Congress Chairman to make ridiculous assertions, targeting Mr. Siaffa Kemokai, a selfless and peoplecentered young leader, who serves as the Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice Minister. The allegation made by Sylvester Wonplue, a corrupt and confused UP youth official that Minister Oswald Tweh and the Deputy and assistant ministers at the ministry are not working together or speaking to each other due to the role of Mr. Siaffa Kemoaki is reckless, irresponsible, and has the propensity to create division amongst members of the ministry’s management team. This exposes the level of hate, envy, and anger that youthful leaders of the UP, including Wonplue have for professional and knowledgeable nonpartisan Liberians who are contributing to national growth and development.

The Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia expresses commendation to Justice Minister Oswald Tweh and his management team for the level of reforms undertaken at the Ministry. From 2024 to 2026, the Ministry of Justice under the Boakai Administration and the legal leadership of Cllr. Oswald N. Tweh has focused on ant-corruption efforts, criminal justice prosecutions, and infrastructural modernization.  The achievement of 52 convictions  in 2024 and 60 in 2025; the ongoing construction of a US$20million modern justice complex on Capitol Hill, the “justice ambassador program”, the establishment of a fully functioning Witness Protection Agency, amongst others, are important achievements of the Ministry of justice under Cllr. Tweh, which aligns with the government’s ARREST Agenda.

In conclusion, the Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia calls on President Joseph Boakai not to give credence to Melvin Cephas, whho has failed the very youthful population he represents at the party. We urge Justice Minister Oswald Tweh and his team at the Ministry not to be distracted, but to keep working in the promotion of justice consistent with the rule of law.

Signed:  COLLABORATING CSO ORGANIZATIONS

The post Coysbl Rejects Cephas’ Call For Justice Minister Tweh’s Dismissal, Praises Commitment To Rule Of Law appeared first on Liberia News Network.

It is highly unfortunate and ridiculous for the chairman of the National Youth Congress of the ruling party to call for the removal of the Justice Minister based on the assumption that a “non-guilty” verdict for former Finance & Development Planning Minister, Mr. Samuel Tweah, is a failure on the part of the Minister of Justice in the fight against corruption. This assertion tends to credence to the already existing perception by some citizens, especially members of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) that the US$6.2million case was intended to target Mr. Tweah. Mr. Cephas’ unwarranted assertions also undermine the integrity of national institutions and threaten the progress of the ongoing rule of law reforms being initiated by the leadership of Cllr. Tweh at the Ministry of Justice.

The Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia wonders as to how the youth leader of the ruling party could hold the Minister of Justice responsible for a verdict rendered by jurors, ordinary Liberians who were selected to rule in the US$6.2million case. It is highly foolhardy and ludicrous for Melvin Cephas and his likes to blame Justice Minister Oswald Tweh for a Jury verdict, especially when the very verdict essentially justified the prosecution indictment that US$6.2million was corrupted and stolen.  The guilty verdict for former Security Advisor, Jefferson Kammoh, former Acting Justice Minister, Cllr. Nyenati Tuan, and former Finance Intelligence Agency Director, Stanley Ford, shows that the government won the corruption case. Mr. Cephas and some members of the Unity Party who seem ignorant of the laws has to understand that political advocacy should be based on factual evidence and respect for the independence of the judiciary rather than promotion of personal or political agendas of a party.

COYSBL sees it as even more evil in nature and gravely despicable for the UP Montserrado County Youth Congress Chairman to make ridiculous assertions, targeting Mr. Siaffa Kemokai, a selfless and peoplecentered young leader, who serves as the Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice Minister. The allegation made by Sylvester Wonplue, a corrupt and confused UP youth official that Minister Oswald Tweh and the Deputy and assistant ministers at the ministry are not working together or speaking to each other due to the role of Mr. Siaffa Kemoaki is reckless, irresponsible, and has the propensity to create division amongst members of the ministry’s management team. This exposes the level of hate, envy, and anger that youthful leaders of the UP, including Wonplue have for professional and knowledgeable nonpartisan Liberians who are contributing to national growth and development.

The Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia expresses commendation to Justice Minister Oswald Tweh and his management team for the level of reforms undertaken at the Ministry. From 2024 to 2026, the Ministry of Justice under the Boakai Administration and the legal leadership of Cllr. Oswald N. Tweh has focused on ant-corruption efforts, criminal justice prosecutions, and infrastructural modernization.  The achievement of 52 convictions  in 2024 and 60 in 2025; the ongoing construction of a US$20million modern justice complex on Capitol Hill, the “justice ambassador program”, the establishment of a fully functioning Witness Protection Agency, amongst others, are important achievements of the Ministry of justice under Cllr. Tweh, which aligns with the government’s ARREST Agenda.

In conclusion, the Coalition of Youths & Students for Better Liberia calls on President Joseph Boakai not to give credence to Melvin Cephas, whho has failed the very youthful population he represents at the party. We urge Justice Minister Oswald Tweh and his team at the Ministry not to be distracted, but to keep working in the promotion of justice consistent with the rule of law.

Signed:  COLLABORATING CSO ORGANIZATIONS

The post Coysbl Rubbishes Cephas Call For The Dismissal Of Justice Minister Tweh – Hails The Minister Adherence To The Rule Of Law appeared first on Liberia News Network.