By Jessica Cox
Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia has taken a step toward tightening its financial governance and political accountability as the Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) concluded its fifth Anti-Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) Policy Tracker piloting workshop in Monrovia.
The three-day gathering, held from September 1–3 at the Cape Hotel, drew senior officials from key state institutions and oversight bodies. It was organized in partnership with the African Union’s Department of Economic Development, Trade, Tourism Industry and Minerals (AU-ETTIM) and the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF).
Participants included representatives from the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC), the Ministry of Finance and DevelopmentPlanning, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the General Auditing Commission (GAC), and the Ministry of Justice.
The Policy Tracker, developed by TJNA, is a tool designed to help African governments evaluate their own national responses to illicit financial flows. Organizers stressed that Liberia’s pilot will identify weaknesses in policy and institutions while proposing reforms to prevent capital flight, strengthen accountability, and protect state revenues.
“This is not just about technical assessments but about driving political will and reform,” a TJNA representative noted, highlighting the importance of strong governance in tackling illicit flows.
The initiative also connects to ongoing political debates in Liberia. Through its parliamentary network (APNIFFT), TJNA has been working with lawmakersto scrutinize concession agreements with multinational companies, including ArcelorMittal and Firestone. Critics have long argued that such deals, especially those involving strategic infrastructure like railways, undermine national interests if not transparently managed.
The findings from Liberia’s pilot will feed into continental policy discussions and are expected to be tabled at the African Union’s Specialized Technical Committee (AU STC) meeting in October 2025.
By joining the Policy Tracker initiative, Liberia not only boosts its credibility in regional anti-IFF efforts but also signals a stronger political commitment to accountability, transparency, and good governance in resource management.
