U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Joseph Zadronzy on Tuesday paid an official working visit to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), a gesture widely seen as an expression of international confidence in Liberia’s ongoing public financial management and domestic revenue reform efforts.
During the visit, Zadronzy praised LRA Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah and the Authority’s management team for what he described as strong leadership and notable institutional reforms aimed at improving domestic revenue mobilization, a sector vital to Liberia’s fiscal stability and development.
Accompanied by the U.S. Embassy’s Political and Economic Affairs Counselor, Sara L. Horner, the Chargé d’Affaires commended Commissioner General Jallah for his commitment, energy, and reform-oriented approach to revenue administration, noting that the ongoing changes at the LRA align with Liberia’s long-term development goals. “You are doing an excellent job, and your dedication is evident,” Zadronzy remarked during the engagement.
Commissioner General Jallah and the LRA Executive Management Team welcomed the U.S. delegation and provided a detailed briefing on the Authority’s accomplishments, challenges, and strategic direction. Discussions focused on the LRA’s central role in financing national development, strengthening governance, and reducing Liberia’s dependence on external aid.
Jallah disclosed that despite operating under significant resource constraints, the LRA has met its revenue targets consistently over the past two years. He added that performance could be substantially improved with greater investment and stronger institutional support.
He urged the Government of Liberia to take a more proactive approach in funding the LRA, emphasizing that sustainable development depends largely on the country’s capacity to mobilize its own resources. In this regard, he called on the government to allocate five percent of the revenue collected by the LRA as its operational budget, noting that this practice is standard among revenue authorities across Africa.
According to Jallah, such an investment would enhance the Authority’s capacity, strengthen tax compliance, curb revenue leakages, and increase resources available to support Liberia’s national development priorities, including the AAID.
The U.S. Embassy’s visit highlights growing international recognition of the Liberia Revenue Authority as a key institution in Liberia’s governance and economic reform agenda, while underscoring the importance of a strong domestic revenue system in achieving sustainable national development.
