Ibrahim Sorie Kamara, Senior Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Department
The National Revenue Authority (NRA) and the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, on Wednesday, 27th March 2024, held a transformative seminar and the launch of the Sierra Leone induction program since its membership in May 2023 at the Freetown City Council. The conference aims to promote transparency and accountability through increased tax awareness.
The event brought together diverse groups of government officials, tax experts, legal practitioners, financial institutions, tax advisors, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as members of the public, to discuss the importance of combatting tax evasion and promoting fair tax practices among member states.
Ibrahim Sorie Kamara, Senior Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Department, highlighted the opportunities the union would leverage, including data sharing and combatting tax evasion and avoidance, which could translate to increased domestic tax mobilisation.
He also stated that participants would have deep knowledge of the latest international standards for exchanging financial information, the benefits of transparency for economic development and the role of citizens in ensuring accountability in tax policies.
Speaking on the mission of Global Forum, Zayda Manata, Head of the Secretariat, expressed that they intend to create space for sharing experiences and insights on International Taxation, fostering a spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility.
She further expressed that their current membership strength is 171 countries, of which Sierra Leone is the 168th member. The seminar climaxed with a declaration of commitments made by the participants to promote transparency and exchange of tax information in the Sierra Leone jurisdiction.
