Information reaching this paper says there are plans by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) to announce the former head of the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms (LiNCA), Teklo Maxwell Grigsby, Commissioner of the Domestic Tax Department.
Grigsby previously served as Manager for Medium & Small Tax and Acting Manager for Sector Ministries at the LRA and Enforcement Director, Small Tax Division at the Ministry of Finance before the establishment of the LRA, roles that demonstrate his expertise in tax administration and resource mobilization.
Atty. Grigsby’s extensive experience, particularly as the and his previous roles within the LRA and Ministry of Finance, apparently might have given him a competitive edge.
The LRA’s decision according to sources to replace Darlington Y. Talery who served in the role for nine years followed a comprehensive and competitive vetting process and Atty. Grigsby’s appointment would mark a significant shift as the LRA focuses on strengthening its domestic tax administration to meet evolving national demands.
The position attracted over 96 applications from professionals across the country and in the diaspora after it was publicly advertised in April 2024 by a vetting committee comprised of key national and international stakeholders.
According to our source, five candidates were shortlisted following a perceived rigorous scrutiny and Atty. Grigsby emerged as the best candidate.
According to LRA sources, the vetting process led by an independent panel, including representatives from the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), the Center for Transparency and Accountability (CENTAL), the Liberia Institute of Certified Public Accountants (LICPA), the Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC), and the Association of Human Resource Professionals of Liberia (AHRPL) was designed to ensure transparency and impartiality.
Additionally, representatives from the U.S. and Swedish Embassies participated in the process.
The panel reviewed the credentials of the applicants to evaluate their qualifications, leadership experience, and professional capabilities of the 96 applicants, 22 were shortlisted for a written examination in September, 2024.
Our source said Atty. Grigsby was unanimously selected by the panel and received approval from representatives of the U.S. and Swedish Embassies for employment as Commissioner, Domestic Tax Department, LRA.
The official appointment of Atty. Grigsby is expected to be announced within a week or two and part of his role will be to develop policies, provide strategic direction, and ensure the effective operation of the Domestic Tax Department.
“With Atty. Grigsby at the helm, the LRA aims to implement innovative tax policies that will boost compliance and foster economic growth as his appointment comes at a time when Liberia is striving to enhance domestic revenue collection to support national development,” a source within LRA stated.
Meanwhile, the LRA’s leadership, including Commissioner General Dorbor Jallah, emphasized the importance of transparency in the selection process, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to merit-based recruitment.
