Members of Liberiaโs House of Representatives convened for a high-level legislative roundtable on tax justice and illicit financial flows (IFFs), held at the Capitol Building in Monrovia on 4 September 2025.
The meeting was organised by the Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA), in collaboration with Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL) and the Africa Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (APNIFFT).
The meeting brought together Members of Parliament (MPs), civil society actors, and technical experts to reflect on Liberiaโs fiscal challenges and explore legislative pathways for reform.
The engagement aimed to deepen lawmakersโ understanding of Parliamentโs role in promoting tax justice, curbing IFFs, and ensuring transparent governance of Liberiaโs extractive resources.
Representatives from IWL, TJNA, and the APNIFFT Liberia Caucus reaffirmed the importance of parliamentary leadership in advancing equitable and sustainable public financing.
Our Senior Policy Officer, Mr. Francis Kairu, emphasised the role of MPs in promoting tax justice across Africa, highlighting the need for stronger oversight and cross-country learning from other APNIFFT caucuses.
โUnitary taxation with formulary apportionment ensures that Liberia receives a fair share of tax revenue based on actual economic activity. Itโs time we moved beyond outdated models that enable profit shifting and adopted systems that strengthen our fiscal capacity for national development,โ Mr. Kairu added.
This was followed by a discussion on revenue leakages in natural resource contracts, especially the ArcelorMittal Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), and the declining public trust in Liberiaโs tax system, led by Harold Marvin Aidoo, Executive Director of IWL.
โLet us also consider the implementation challenges, as moving from one system to another requires global coordination and careful assessment of our local capacity,โ Montserrado County Representative, Ms. Priscilla Cooper noted.
She called for a thorough review of existing mineral agreements, urging experts to make recommendations for improvement, and highlighted the complexities of implementing new tax models such as unitary taxation, stressing the need to consider issues of sovereignty, double taxation risks, and the practical challenges of monitoring compliance.
โOur mandate as legislators is clear: to make laws, exercise oversight, and represent our people,โ noted Nimba County Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr. โTo deliver on this mandate, we need sustained support that educates and empowers us to advocate effectively for our constituents.โ
He also commended civil society and partners for the technical expertise that continues to strengthen legislative decisions on concession agreements, underscoring that effective oversight and continuous collaboration are essential to safeguarding Liberiaโs resources and advancing the public good.
โWeโve seen how opaque contract negotiations and diminishing equity shares in our extractive deals have hurt our communities. These issues go beyond just numbers, they affect national development. Itโs time Parliament steps up, asserts its role, and demands full transparency and accountability in how our resources are governed.โ Bong County Senator, Prince K. Moye remarked.
The MPs expressed their commitment to strengthening fiscal oversight and working with civil society to ensure Liberia maximises its resource revenues for public benefit. The meeting concluded with a resounding call to Parliament to champion progressive tax policies, curb illicit financial flows, and restore public trust in fiscal governance.
As Liberia navigates critical fiscal and developmental challenges, the dialogue highlighted a shared conviction, tax justice is not only a matter of revenue, but a foundation for human rights, equity, and sustainable development. TJNA and its partners remain committed to working alongside Parliament to transform this vision into lasting change for the people of Liberia.
For more information on APNIFFT and TJNAโs work in Liberia and West Africa, contact Francis Kairu at fkairu[@]taxjusticeafrica.net
