As key contributors, Bea Mountain and ArcelorMittal-Liberia were applauded for setting an example for other businesses.
By Bridgett Milton
Monrovia, November 25, 2024: The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has honored several top tax-paying companies, including Bea Mountain Mining Corporation and ArcelorMittal-Liberia, as the highest tax contributors for 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The two companies were honored during LRA’s Taxpayers Appreciation Awards Night recently.
The ceremony, held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, brought together government officials, business leaders, and development partners to celebrate outstanding taxpayers.
The event marked the first awards ceremony since the LRA postponed last year’s celebration due to the presidential and legislative elections.
Businesses and individuals across various sectors were recognized for their compliance and contributions to national revenue.
LRA’s Trixie Greaves highlighted the importance of acknowledging Liberia’s most compliant taxpayers.
“These awards are not just about recognizing tax payments but also about fostering a culture of accountability and compliance,” Greaves said.
She detailed the categories awarded, including large taxpayers, small and medium enterprises, natural resource companies, government agencies, and nonprofits.
Top honorees included Firestone Liberia, Ecobank, the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Catholic Education Secretariat, and the Carter Center.
Greaves praised the honorees for their exemplary contributions to the nation’s development and urged others to emulate their commitment.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Marcus Wleh, Head of Sustainability and External Relations at ArcelorMittal-Liberia, emphasized the collective role of taxpayers in building Liberia’s future.
“Being recognized as a top contributor is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to Liberia’s economic growth,” Wleh stated.
“This partnership between the private sector and the government is critical to advancing national development goals.”
He encouraged all stakeholders to remain dedicated to their fiscal responsibilities, emphasizing the significance of collaboration in achieving Liberia’s financial aspirations.
In line with the theme “Moving to Billions,” LRA Commissioner General Dorbor Jallah outlined the authority’s vision to significantly increase revenue collection.
Jallah emphasized that the country’s economic transformation hinges on innovative reforms and strengthened compliance measures.
“To reach our ambitious target of generating $1 billion annually, we are implementing strategic initiatives to modernize our tax system,” Jallah said.
Among the outlined reforms are the introduction of electronic fiscal devices to monitor real-time sales and the planned replacement of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) with a Value-Added Tax (VAT) by 2026.
These measures aim to enhance efficiency, transparency, and taxpayer convenience.
The Commissioner General also announced plans to digitize vehicle registration and other government services by 2025, a move expected to improve compliance and broaden the revenue base.
The awards ceremony underscored the critical role taxpayers play in funding Liberia’s development agenda.
As key contributors, Bea Mountain and ArcelorMittal-Liberia were applauded for setting an example for other businesses.
“Together, we can move Liberia toward achieving sustainable growth and fiscal stability,” Jallah remarked.
Jallah urged all taxpayers to support the vision encapsulated in the theme.
