MONROVIA – The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has further enhanced its growing international reputation following the appointment of its Manager for Communication, Media and Public Affairs, Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh, to the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) in Abuja, Nigeria.
Mr. Sengbeh has been selected to serve as Manager for Communication and IT at WATAF, where he succeeds Ms. Tochukwu Sandra Onyemata who was Manager for Communication and Laison. His appointment represents a major milestone for both Liberia and the LRA, as he becomes the first Liberian and the first official from the institution to hold the position.
The selection came after a highly competitive international recruitment process, highlighting Mr. Sengbeh’s professional credentials as well as the increasing recognition of the LRA within regional tax administration circles.
Observers say the development reflects the LRA’s deliberate efforts to position itself as a center of technical expertise in West Africa through the strategic placement of qualified professionals in regional institutions.
This is not the first time the LRA has exported talent beyond Liberia’s borders. In 2024, L. Daniel Jaiblai was seconded to the Gambia Revenue Authority, where he provided post-clearance audit support that reportedly contributed to stronger revenue performance in The Gambia.
Mr. Jaiblai has since transitioned to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), where he now supports regional transparency and development initiatives. Similarly, former LRA Commissioner for Domestic Tax, Darlingston Y. Talery, joined ECOWAS as Head of the Domestic Resource Mobilization Sector and was later appointed to the United Nations Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters.
At WATAF, Mr. Sengbeh is expected to lead communication initiatives aimed at improving institutional visibility, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and building stronger partnerships with the media across West Africa. His role will also contribute to shaping regional discussions on tax administration, transparency, and domestic resource mobilization.
The secondment is for an initial period of 24 months, with the possibility of extension, and forms part of WATAF’s broader program to build tax administration capacity among member states through structured staff exchanges.
Welcoming the appointment, LRA Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah described it as a proud achievement for both the institution and Liberia. “He has all it takes to excel at the regional level and make the LRA proud,” Jallah said, while encouraging staff members to strive for excellence and prepare themselves for future international opportunities.
Before his appointment, Mr. Sengbeh spent nearly ten years leading the LRA’s Communication, Media and Public Affairs Section, where he led national tax awareness campaigns, journalist training programs, and transparency initiatives under the Freedom of Information framework. He also served as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Liberia, where he was recognized as Outstanding Faculty for the 2023/2024 academic years.
With a Master’s degree in Media and Communication Studies from Lund University and more than two decades of experience in journalism and strategic communication, Mr. Sengbeh’s appointment is being viewed as another sign that Liberia is steadily gaining credibility and influence in regional tax governance.
