KIGALI – Liberia’s Commissioner for Domestic Tax at its Revenue Authority (LRA), Ms. Margrete P. Krote, says the country is committed to advancing its decentralization program and hoped to learn from Rwanda’s experience in using technology to improve revenue collection and public service delivery.
Ms. Krote made the statement on Thursday during a meeting with officials of the Rwanda Revenue Authority in Kigali as Liberia Study Tour of Rwanda.
“Rwanda has evolved significantly over the last decade, especially in technology and transformation. We in Africa are looking up to Rwanda because of the work you are doing,” she maintained.
Ms. Krote acknowledged that Liberia had faced challenges in implementing its decentralization reforms, despite the passage of the Local Government Act in 2018. She said continued engagement with Rwanda could help Liberia identify practical ways to accelerate the process.
She also described the study tour as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with Rwanda and turn lessons from the East African country would help accelerate practical reforms at home.
Rwanda stresses digital cooperation
Speaking earlier, Rwanda Revenue Authority Commissioner General Hon. Roland Niwenshuti welcomed the Liberian delegation and reaffirmed his institution’s willingness to share its experience in revenue mobilization and decentralized tax administration.
He intimated that digital transformation could not succeed if revenue authorities worked in isolation.
“You can digitalize as a tax administration, but you can never succeed if you are digitalizing alone,” Hon. Niwenshuti stressed.
He explained that effective tax collection, particularly property taxation, depends on accurate information and cooperation among government institutions, land registries, financial institutions and the private sector.
Hon. Niwenshuti said these partnerships help revenue authorities identify taxable properties, improve records and strengthen compliance.
He also highlighted the importance of leadership and coordination between national revenue authorities and local government administrations.
In Rwanda, Hon. Niwenshuti disclosed that the revenue authority works with district leaders and local authorities to support the collection of taxes and fees that contribute to local government financing.
Digital services also under study
Earlier on Thursday, the Liberian delegation visited Irembo, Rwanda’s digital public service platform, which enables citizens to access a range of government services online, including applications for marriage certificates.
The visit formed part of Liberia’s wider effort to understand how digital systems can simplify administrative processes and improve access to public services.
The study tour brings together representatives of Liberian government institutions to examine Rwanda’s experience in decentralization, public financial management, revenue administration and digital service delivery.
Liberia is pursuing decentralization reforms aimed at strengthening local governance, expanding community participation in public decision-making and improving the management of public resources at the county level.
The government is also advancing revenue-sharing arrangements and the deployment of county treasurers in six of Liberia’s 15 counties, with the aim of putting resources in the hands of the locals and bringing government processes closer to communities.