Monrovia, Liberia – September 8, 2025-The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has firmly denied allegations circulating on social media that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai instructed LRA Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah to seize a bus donated to former First Lady Clar Marie Weah.
In a strongly worded statement released Friday, the Authority dismissed the report as “false and misleading,” insisting that at no time has the President interfered in its statutory functions. The LRA described the claims as “an imaginative fabrication” intended to drag the institution and its leadership into unnecessary political controversy.
The statement further addressed rumors that the Authority had refused to accept payments from Madam Weah. The LRA labeled this claim “laughable and misleading,” emphasizing that the agency’s mandate is to collect every cent of revenue owed to the Government of Liberia. With its ambitious target of mobilizing one billion Liberian dollars in revenue, the LRA said it could not and would not reject legitimate payments.
“The notion that the LRA would refuse duty payments from anyone reflects a clear misunderstanding of how the institution operates,” the statement noted. The Authority added that it remains focused on enhancing domestic resource mobilization to finance key national development priorities, including health, education, and infrastructure.
While the LRA has urged the public to disregard the reports and rely only on official communications from the Authority, sources close to the Ministry of Finance and the Executive Mansion have provided a contrasting account. According to these sources, President Boakai reportedly instructed the LRA Commissioner General to halt clearance of the bus, which had been donated to Madam Weah by a Togolese associate in support of her charity, the Clar Hope Foundation.
Despite provisions granting former First Ladies duty-free privileges, the bus has remained parked for more than four months without clearance. What makes the matter even more controversial, the sources say, is that Madam Weah has expressed a willingness to pay duties if the LRA chooses not to honor her statutory privilege. However, the Authority has allegedly failed to provide her foundation with any formal communication or resolution, leaving the vehicle in limbo.
The situation has raised broader questions about consistency, fairness, and transparency in the application of duty and tax laws. Observers warn that prolonged silence on the matter could undermine public confidence in the Authority’s operations, especially at a time when the government is under pressure to strengthen domestic revenue collection.
As the conflicting narratives continue to unfold, the issue has attracted wide public attention, with many Liberians calling for clarity from both the LRA and the Executive Mansion. For now, the Authority maintains that it operates independently and without interference, while the status of the Clar Hope Foundation’s bus remains unresolved.
