By: Bai Sesay
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has urged citizens to play a more active role in ensuring the collection of Goods and Services Tax (GST) by demanding receipts for all purchases. This call was made during the first day of the Pre-Legislative Hearing on the Finance Act for Fiscal Year 2025.
Hon. Conteh emphasized the importance of GST in generating revenue for essential public services, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure. He warned that low compliance levels among retailers in issuing GST receipts are hindering the country’s economic health and tax collection efforts.
“Without a receipt, citizens risk being shortchanged and unknowingly allow merchants to evade taxes, which deprives the country of much-needed resources,” he said. The GST, implemented in Sierra Leone in 2009, is a 15% tax applied to most goods and services, both imported and locally produced.
Despite its introduction 15 years ago, Hon. Conteh noted that the effectiveness of the tax system is being undermined by insufficient citizen vigilance and limited enforcement by the National Revenue Authority (NRA). He called on Sierra Leoneans to recognize their responsibility in national development, highlighting that requesting receipts strengthens the economy and ensures fair allocation of public resources.
Drawing a comparison to practices in developed countries like the United States, Hon. Conteh pointed out that citizens in these nations routinely demand receipts as a measure of accountability. He lamented that this culture is not as prevalent in Sierra Leone, contributing to the continued issue of tax evasion.
The Deputy Speaker’s remarks serve as a call to action for all citizens to routinely request receipts, particularly in larger retail establishments, to help ensure that taxes are properly collected and allocated. He stressed that even small actions like asking for a receipt can have a significant impact on the nation’s financial stability.
As the Pre-Legislative Hearing on the Finance Act continues, attention will shift to strategies for improving GST compliance and enhancing the NRA’s enforcement efforts. The success of the GST system relies on both effective governmental oversight and active citizen participation.
The Deputy Speaker’s message underlines that collective responsibility, starting with individual actions, is key to fostering a transparent and prosperous future for Sierra Leone.
