Liberia has joined other African countries in strengthening efforts to improve tax transparency and clamp down on cross-border tax evasion following the adoption of a new continental strategy aimed at recovering lost public revenue and curbing illicit financial flows.
The commitment was confirmed by Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah after the 19th Meeting of the Africa Initiative in Cotonou, Benin, where heads of tax administrations endorsed a resolution to deepen cooperation in tackling offshore tax evasion.
Under the agreement, Liberia will implement the Model Strategy to Maximise the Use of Exchange of Information on Request (EOIR), a global framework that allows tax authorities to request financial information from other jurisdictions when investigating suspected tax evasion cases.
The strategy is designed to close gaps that allow individuals and companies to hide income abroad and avoid tax obligations, while strengthening governments’ ability to recover revenue lost through offshore financial activities.
Speaking after the meeting, Commissioner General Jallah said Liberia’s endorsement reflects a firm commitment to transparency, stronger tax administration, and closer international cooperation.
“Tax evaders should no longer find safe places to hide income across borders,” Jallah said. “Liberia is strengthening its ability to work with other countries to detect offshore tax evasion, recover lost public revenue, and ensure fairness in the tax system. This is about protecting national revenue, building public trust, and mobilizing resources for development.”
He added that enhanced cooperation will improve the Liberia Revenue Authority’s ability to identify offshore tax abuse, strengthen compliance, and protect the country’s tax base in a global economy where financial transactions move quickly across borders.
According to him, access to international tax information will also support audits, investigations, and enforcement actions, helping the LRA improve revenue collection while reinforcing accountability.
The resolution builds on earlier regional commitments, including the Yaoundé Declaration, and ongoing work led by the Africa Initiative and the Global Forum to strengthen the practical use of information exchange among tax authorities.
Participating countries are expected to review their legal frameworks, develop implementation plans, and work closely with international partners to ensure effective use of the exchange of information system.
Jallah reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to global tax transparency standards, saying the country will continue to work with regional and international partners to strengthen revenue systems and expand domestic resource mobilization.
He said Liberia’s participation in the initiative signals its growing role in regional tax cooperation and reflects efforts to build a more transparent and efficient tax administration capable of supporting long-term national development.
