Monrovia, Liberia: Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Customs Commissioner Saah Saamoi has stressed the need for stronger customs compliance across West Africa, highlighting post-clearance audits (PCA) as a vital tool for trade facilitation and revenue growth.
Commissioner Saamoi made the call Monday at the opening of a weeklong regional workshop jointly hosted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and AFRITAC West 2 in Monrovia.
“Post-clearance audit is not just a technical exercise; it is central to strengthening compliance, enhancing revenue collection, and facilitating legitimate trade,” Saamoi said. He urged participants to actively engage, share experiences, and apply lessons learned to improve customs systems in their home countries.
The training has brought together 24 delegates from customs and revenue authorities in Ghana, The Gambia, Cabo Verde, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Liberia. Organized under IMF’s technical assistance program, AFRITAC West 2 delivers tailored capacity-building support to English-speaking West African nations.
According to organizers, the workshop seeks to build the capacity of customs officers in applying best practice audit systems, encourage peer-to-peer learning, assess technical assistance needs, and help countries design strategies to strengthen their PCA functions.
Key facilitators include Mr. L. Daniel Jaiblai, Manager of the LRA’s Post-Clearance Audit Unit and an IMF-trained international expert, alongside Senior Facilitator Phillip Wood. Jaiblai, who has also supported PCA reforms in The Gambia, is credited with advancing compliance and boosting revenue collection, work that earned recognition from the World Customs Organization.
Over the course of the week, delegates will participate in technical lectures, peer-learning exchanges, and practical exercises aimed at developing actionable PCA strategies in line with international standards.
Commissioner Saamoi emphasized that the workshop’s impact will depend on delegates’ commitment to putting lessons into practice.
“I encourage all participants to make the most of this opportunity, particularly by learning from facilitators like Mr. Jaiblai, so they can return home with practical solutions to strengthen their audit operations,” he said.
Liberia is increasingly seen as a leader in customs modernization in the region. The co-facilitation role of Jaiblai, an LRA expert, was highlighted as a sign that the country is not only benefiting from IMF technical support but also contributing knowledge to help strengthen customs systems across West Africa.
Written By: Jerry Laynumah Siakor
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