Monrovia, Liberia: The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has officially welcomed a six-member high-level delegation from Sierra Leone’s National Revenue Authority (NRA) for a four-day technical working visit aimed at deepening collaboration and sharing best practices in customs modernization and digital transformation.

Led by Mr. Tennyson Bio, Commissioner of Customs Services, the delegation arrived at the LRA Headquarters in Paynesville on Thursday, August 7. The visit focuses primarily on gaining insights into Liberia’s successful implementation and use of the ASYCUDA World system, an advanced customs management platform used to streamline trade, boost revenue collection, and enhance customs operations.

During a courtesy meeting, Mr. Bio conveyed greetings from NRA Commissioner General Jeneba J. Bangura and lauded the LRA for its technical leadership and continued support to Sierra Leone’s customs reform journey. He described the visit as timely, noting that lessons learned from Liberia’s experience would significantly support the NRA’s own modernization agenda.

LRA Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah, in welcoming the delegation, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to regional cooperation and peer learning 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.”

Liberia is widely recognized as a regional model in the deployment of ASYCUDA World. The system has contributed significantly to improved trade compliance, better enforcement, and increased revenue performance.

The LRA’s leadership in this area was further demonstrated in 2024, when it seconded three customs experts Atty. William L. Buku, Mr. Bazzie Akoi, and Mr. Gabriel Maulana Kromah to assist the NRA in transitioning to the HS 2022 version of the Harmonized System for tariff classification.

Their contribution earned praise from the World Customs Organization (WCO), which acknowledged Liberia’s role in regional capacity building, stating:

“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.”

The visiting NRA officials will engage with LRA technical teams in several specialized sessions covering ASYCUDA operations, Post Clearance Audit, and Customs Risk Management. The mission will also include a strategic field tour of the Freeport of Monrovia, Liberia’s largest and busiest port.

Members of the visiting NRA delegation include:

• Mr. Tennyson Bio – Commissioner of Customs Services (Head of Delegation)
• 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 and
• Mr. Alie Hassan Bangura – ICT Consultant/Advisor to the Commissioner General

This high-level engagement not only strengthens bilateral relations between the two revenue institutions but also positions the LRA as a regional hub for customs innovation, digital integration, and capacity development.

Written By: Jerry Laynumah Siakor