The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has welcomed a high-powered six-member working mission from the National Revenue Authority (NRA) of Sierra Leone as its headquarters in Paynesville.
The delegation, led by Mr. Tennyson Bio, Commissioner of Customs Services at the NRA, arrived at the LRA Headquarters in Paynesville on Thursday, August 7, 2025, for a four-day technical working visit.
The engagement is designed to deepen Sierra Leone’s understanding of ASYCUDA World operations and benefit from Liberia’s experience in leveraging the system to streamline customs processes, enhance trade facilitation, and improve domestic revenue mobilization.
In a courtesy meeting with LRA Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah, Mr. Bio extended warm greetings from NRA Commissioner General Madam Jeneba J. Bangura. He conveyed her appreciation to the LRA for its steadfast support to Sierra Leone’s customs reform agenda and praised the LRA’s technical strength and advancement in customs digitalization.
He emphasized that the visit would further enhance the NRA’s own modernization efforts, particularly within the Customs Department.
Welcoming the delegation, LRA Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah reaffirmed the LRA’s commitment to fostering regional cooperation and peer learning in revenue administration, especially in the area of Domestic Resource Mobilization (DRM).
“The LRA remains open and ready to share its experiences and best practices with sister revenue administrations across the region,” CG Jallah stated. “We are proud of the gains made under ASYCUDA World and view this visit as a validation of our leadership in customs innovation and digital transformation.”
The working visit will focus on key operational challenges Sierra Leone has encountered in implementing and optimizing ASYCUDA World — an integrated customs management system that automates trade procedures, facilitates data-driven decision-making, and enhances revenue collection and border security.
Liberia has emerged as one of the regional models in the effective deployment and customization of ASYCUDA World, with the system contributing significantly to increased revenue performance, improved trade compliance, and better customs enforcement.
As part of regional technical support, the LRA in 2024 seconded three of its customs experts — Atty. William L. Buku, Mr. Bazzie Akoi, and Mr. Gabriel Maulana Kromah — to Sierra Leone to assist with the country’s migration to HS 2022, the latest version of the Harmonized System for tariff classification.
Their efforts were recognized by the World Customs Organization (WCO), which applauded LRA’s contribution to regional capacity building. A WCO communication acknowledged:
“On behalf of the WCO and the Customs Administration of Sierra Leone, I would like to express our most sincere appreciation to you for having authorized the three experts to help co-facilitate this workshop.”
During their stay in Liberia, the NRA officials will participate in a series of technical exchanges with LRA experts, including sessions on Customs Risk Management, Post Clearance Audit, and comprehensive ASYCUDA World operations. The visit will also feature a strategic tour of the Freeport of Monrovia — Liberia’s largest seaport and a key center for customs enforcement and trade facilitation.
Members of the visiting NRA delegation include:
- Mr. Tennyson Bio – Commissioner of Customs Services (Delegation Head)
- Ms. Lizbal Heroe – Assistant Commissioner, Central Services
- Mr. Felix Jusu – Assistant Commissioner, Anti-Smuggling Unit
- Ms. Erica Vandi – Revenue Officer, ASYCUDA World Functional Team
- Mr. Jarieu Daramy – Manager, ASYCUDA World Technical Team
- Mr. Alie Hassan Bangura – ICT Consultant/Advisor to the Commissioner General
This high-level exchange reaffirms the strong sisterly ties between the LRA and NRA and further positions the LRA as a regional center of excellence in customs modernization, innovation, and digital integration.
