By: Joseph Momoh, Reporter, D.S.
The Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Matthew Dingie, has reassured the public that Sierra Leone is poised to meet its revenue generation targets, despite experiencing initial setbacks in early 2025.
During the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s (MOIC) weekly press briefing, Dingie emphasized the country’s strong performance in 2024, where it achieved 99% of its revenue target. However, he acknowledged a decline in revenue collection at the beginning of 2025, attributing it to the temporary unavailability of over 2,000 Electronic Cash Register (ECR) machines. These machines, crucial for tracking business transactions, were malfunctioning, which resulted in a tax revenue shortfall. Dingie pointed out that some businesses were also reluctant to utilize the ECR system, exacerbating the problem.
To tackle these issues, the National Revenue Authority (NRA) has engaged with the service provider to resolve the technical difficulties, resulting in the full reactivation of all ECR machines. Dingie expressed optimism that revenue collection would see significant improvement by the end of March 2025.
He further urged the public to actively ensure tax compliance by requesting NRA-issued receipts for all purchases and payments. “Tax compliance is a civic responsibility,” he stressed, highlighting that adherence to tax regulations is essential for national development.
The government remains committed to strengthening revenue mobilization efforts to ensure economic stability and fund essential public services.
For further information, please contact the Daily Scope Newspaper at dailyscopemedia@gmail.com.
