Sets New Integrity Standard in Public Sector
In an effort to reinforce integrity and protect public revenue, 100% of the workforce at the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has completed the mandated declaration of assets, making it the first government institution in Liberia to reach this compliance milestone.
Speaking Wednesday (July 16) at a joint press conference with Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe in Paynesville, LRA Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah described the achievement not just as a regulatory success but as a powerful institutional statement.
“This milestone is not just a statistical accomplishment,” CG Jallah said. “It is a clear demonstration of our institutional commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity in public service. At the LRA, we understand that protecting Liberia’s revenue begins with protecting our values.”
The Commissioner General stressed that the next phase of this initiative is just as crucial: verification and accountability. He announced that the LRA, in collaboration with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), will galvanize resources to begin a thorough process of verifying all asset declarations, followed by lifestyle audits.
“If any LRA staff is found to be living beyond their lawful means—especially through questionable property acquisition—they will be made to account in line with the law,” CG Jallah emphasized. “Our integrity safeguards revenue. That is why we will continue working with the LACC to ensure every declaration is not only filed but also credible.”
In her remarks, LACC Executive Chairperson Cllr. Alexandra Zoe commended the LRA’s bold leadership for mandating and achieving full asset declaration compliance across all staff.
“This proactive action underscores the LRA’s resolve to set the standard in integrity, not just as an enforcement institution but as an example of ethical leadership in the public sector,” Madam Zoe noted. “Integrity,” she said, “is not a slogan. It is a behavior, a deliberate and consistent action that must begin within the walls of our institutions.”
She indicated that LRA’s compliance is not just about enforcement, but a cultural shift in governance, and that the LRA’s action sends a clear message that public service is a public trust, ethical leadership is possible, and that the LRA is proving that.
The LRA, the LACC Boss noted, “demonstrates that its commitment to good governance is more than rhetoric, but leadership by example.” She emphasized that the move aligns with Section 10 of the National Code of Conduct, which mandates public officials and employees to declare their assets and interests—a provision meant to uphold integrity across government operations.
Although the LACC Act does not mandate every employee within a government entity—such as the LRA—to declare their assets, the LRA Board in 2016 took a proactive decision to require all LRA employees, regardless of rank or status, to declare their assets with the LACC. This decision, made nearly a decade ago, was a clear reflection of the Authority’s deep commitment to transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity—values essential to the credibility of its tax and revenue functions.
The agreement authorizes the LACC to investigate and prosecute corruption involving LRA officials, staff, contractors, or affiliates; access all asset declarations made by LRA employees; and verify and conduct due diligence on declarations made by both appointed and non-appointed LRA personnel. This structured partnership ensures that the LRA’s ethical obligations are not only policy-based but also subject to external verification and legal scrutiny.
Despite being adopted over eight years ago, the full implementation of this policy has only now taken effect, demonstrating the LRA’s persistence and resolve to institutionalize ethics from top to bottom.
“By aligning with the LACC and adhering to this framework,” CG Jallah said, “the LRA is not only enforcing the law but also modeling integrity as a revenue protection strategy.” CG Jallah called on other public institutions, especially those involved in governance and service delivery, to emulate the LRA’s example.
The joint press conference signaled a renewed national commitment to building a culture of integrity, ethics, and accountability—principles critical to safeguarding public finance and strengthening democratic governance in Liberia.
