NATIONAL NEWS

MONROVIA – The Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), Anderson Miamen, has welcomed the Liberia Revenue Authority’s reported performance in exceeding its 2026 domestic revenue target, while urging the government to ensure that the additional funds are transparently allocated to projects that directly benefit ordinary Liberians.

By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com

Miamen described the LRA’s reported increase in domestic revenue collection as “highly welcoming,” commending Commissioner Dorbor Jallah and his team for what he called a job well done.

He, however, cautioned the revenue authority and the government against complacency, calling for sustained efforts to improve domestic resource mobilization and move Liberia beyond what he described as the country’s “Millions Curse.”

According to Miamen, Liberia has for years generated relatively low levels of domestic revenue despite its economic potential, limiting the government’s ability to adequately finance essential public services and development programs.

“It has been conspicuously clear that Liberia has been cheated over time, given the low domestic revenues generated,” Miamen said, arguing that the country’s current revenue performance could be surpassed through stronger attitudes toward revenue collection, greater use of technology, transparency and effective oversight.

Miamen Calls for Billions, Not Millions

While acknowledging the LRA’s progress, Miamen said Liberia should not become satisfied with collecting additional millions when the country has the potential to mobilize significantly greater resources.

“Thank you Millions, but go away!! We need Billions and even Trillions!!” he said.

Miamen maintained that improved domestic revenue mobilization should become a long-term national priority, particularly as Liberia seeks to reduce its dependence on external financing and strengthen its ability to fund development from domestic resources.

He emphasized that technology, transparency and oversight must remain central to efforts to identify leakages, improve compliance and ensure that revenues owed to the state are collected.

Concern Over How Additional Revenue Will Be Spent

Despite welcoming the reported increase in revenue, Miamen said the more important question is what happens to the additional money after it reaches government coffers.

He warned against using increased revenues to finance expenditures that primarily benefit senior government officials and their political allies instead of addressing the needs of the broader population.

“The concern, however, is what happens to the monies generated, in terms allocating them to activities that directly and substantively benefit the population,” he said.

Miamen specifically cautioned that additional revenues should not be used to purchase more expensive vehicles and other logistical resources for senior officials, including the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief Justice.

He also criticized the potential use of public resources for what he described as the “ill-advised Foya-based Presidential project” and other initiatives that, in his assessment, do not provide meaningful benefits to ordinary citizens.

Warning Against Political Patronage

The CENTAL executive director further warned against channeling increased public revenues into presidential committees and other structures populated by what he described as “recycled politicians” and individuals who depend heavily on public resources.

He argued that Liberia’s additional domestic revenue should instead be directed toward tangible development priorities capable of improving the living conditions of citizens.

Miamen said the effectiveness of increased revenue collection should ultimately be measured not only by the amount of money entering government accounts but also by how transparently and responsibly those resources are managed.

Focus on Vulnerable Liberians

Miamen said CENTAL would closely monitor how the additional revenue is allocated and spent, particularly whether the resources benefit politically connected individuals or ordinary citizens.

He stressed that women, children and persons with disabilities should receive particular attention because they are among those most affected by poor governance, corruption and inadequate public services.

“We will be closely watching to see where the extra millions will be allocated and spent, whether on recycled politicians and their likes or on projects and activities that are directly beneficial to ordinary citizens, especially women, children, persons with disabilities who suffer most from the effects of bad governance, corruption and other social ills,” Miamen said.

Demand for Tangible Development

Miamen concluded by reiterating his support for improved domestic revenue collection, but insisted that increased revenues must translate into visible improvements in the lives of Liberians.

He said the country needs to move beyond celebrating additional millions and focus on generating and properly managing billions in public resources.

“Thank you Millions, but go away!! We want Billions that are properly allocated and managed to tangibly benefit Liberians, including those in remote locations and lacking basic social services,” he said.

His comments come amid growing calls for stronger domestic revenue mobilization and greater accountability in the management of public finances, as Liberia seeks to expand its fiscal space and meet the development needs of its population.

For Miamen and CENTAL, the success of domestic revenue collection should therefore not end with higher figures reported by the revenue authority.

The ultimate test, he argues, is whether those resources are transparently managed and transformed into better public services, infrastructure and opportunities for citizens across Liberia.