The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Southern Regional office in Bo has on Wednesday, 23rd October, 2024 held a sensitization meeting with staff of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) and admonished them to always maintain integrity in the generation of revenue from tax payers.
The meeting, which took place at the NRA Conference Room at Baima Road in Bo City, was to discuss unlawful practices that could negatively impact the country's revenue mobilization drive.
In his statement, ACC’s Senior Public Education Officer (SPEO), Abdulai Saccoh, said that revenue mobilization is a practical means of financing Government infrastructural and human capital development programs, adding that any corrupt practices in the national revenue mobilization drive will drastically impede Government’s ability to address the growing socio-economic needs of its people.
Mr. Saccoh furthered that undervaluing of goods at customs points, divulging sensitive information to some business owners and the ineffective monitoring of the use of the Goods and Services Tax machines have often aided business people to evade taxes. The diversion of national revenues for personal use, he said, has also contributed in depriving the Government of much-needed revenue, thereby stifling the implementation of the Government’s national development plans.
The ACC Resident Prosecutor, Nigle B.E. Davies, reminded NRA staff of their responsibilities under the National Revenue Authority Act of 2024. He also made reference to offences in the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 (as amended in 2019), including corrupt acquisition of wealth, misappropriation of public funds, and conspiracy to commit a corruption offence, among others, which, upon conviction, the person(s) shall be liable to a fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Leonea(Le 50,000) or imprisonment for a term not less than five (5) years, or to both such fine and imprisonment. Mr. Davies further emphasized the importance of diligence in their work and warned against rogue behaviors in all financial and revenue mobilization drives.
ACC’s Public Education Officer, Mohamed A. Kabba, said ensuring integrity, transparency and accountability in the revenue mobilization drive is crucial, stressing that the significance of the NRA cannot be overemphasized as the Central Government largely depends on the revenue generated by the NRA to create employment opportunities, salary increment and provision of other infrastructural and human capital development programs.
Earlier in the meeting, the NRA Regional Manager, Joseph Kelly-Lamin commended the ACC for the sensitization drive and called on his colleagues to heed to anti-corruption messages, adding that they will continue to maintain best practices and to stay away from dishonest practices that may have the tendency to adversely affect the institution’s revenue generation drive. He further reaffirmed the commitment of NRA to position itself not only to meet expected revenue trajectory, but also to increase and meet this year’s revenue generation target.
Giving the closing remarks, Public Education Officer, ACC, David Garrick, called on the NRA staff to continue with their renewed commitment to increase revenue, adding that the success of any revenue generation initiative largely depends on maintaining integrity and professionalism. He encouraged them to avoid any illegal practice that will bring shame to their family names and assured them of the Commission’s commitment to addressing complaints made to the toll free lines of 077-985985 or 077-986986.
A question and answer session climaxed the engagement.
