The Government of Liberia last year 2020 ratified two custom instruments, The Revised KYOTO convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of customs procedures RKc, and The Nairobi Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance for the Prevention, Investigation and Repression of Custom offenses (Nairobi Convention).  The Head of Mission, H.E Ambassador Isaac W. Nyenabo today formally notified the Secretary General that Republic of Liberia has acceded to the International Convention on the simplification and harmonization of Customs procedures, done at Kyoto 26-June-1999 and amended in 2006 as well as the Nairobi Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance, a dispatch from Brussels quoted.

During the bilateral meeting after the deposit, H.E elaborated on several issues that the KYOTO convention intends to address, transparency and predictability of custom actions, standardization and simplification of the goods declaration and supporting documents, simplified procedures for authorized persons, maximum use of information technology, minimum necessary customs control to ensure compliance with regulations amongst other things. Ambassador further lamented on the Nairobi Declaration and why it is so important with the aim at affording parties’ mutual assistance with a view of preventing, investigating and repressing customs offences and as well as share assistance by customs administration who are party to the convention.  Ambassador Nyenabo further stress H.E The President, Dr. George M. Weah continues commitment to multilateralism and collective global adherence to protocols. H.E the Ambassador informed Dr. Mikuriya that due to the current pandemic, and considering the travel restriction, a full delegation that would have included Custom Authority were unable to make full notification.

For His part, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya extended his appreciation to H.E The President of Liberia, the Legislature of Liberia and the People of Liberia for acceding to this two very important instrument. He, however thank H.E Ambassador for the formal notification and deposit, stating that the WCO enjoys good relationships with Liberia’s Mission at the EU and Liberia customs authority.  The World Custom Organization was established in 1952 as the custom Co-operation council and currently constitutes 183 custom authorities, the organization main objective is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of custom Administration, provides guidance, foster exchange information between custom administration as well as govern framework and conventions that facilitate and secure free flow of international Trade.

Liberia begin member on Jan 7^th, 1975 and has since been engaged through several partnership and cooperation, ranging from, import and export traffic, Modernization and classification of tariff work, Valuation of customs infrastructure and classification, strengthening cooperation between parties involved in clearance of relief consignment, coding systems and other international best practices.  It can also be recalled that at the request of the Liberia revenue Authority, The WCO conducted a mission in Liberia with the purpose of establishing a set of activities that would provide tailor made technical assistance and other capacity building activities that would strengthen LRA technical assistance.

Your Excellency, the Permanent Representatives of ECOWAS and WAEMU to the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union

Distinguished Excellences and Colleagues! I am deeply thankful for your cooperation given me during my tenure as coordinator of our Group, The West African Region Group of Ambassadors since last year October 2020.

will also like to congratulate the incoming chair, H.E _________ of Mali and wish to pledge my full support and commitment to your leadership as coordinator of our group. 

Let me also offer my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Permanent Representatives of ECOWAS, H. E Hemou, and the Secretary for the profound work during our tenure aim at addressing some of the issues faced by our group.

Excellencies, it is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed our efforts and requires an urgent need to significantly strengthen our efforts, coordination by engaging with our international partners through the many bilateral and multilateral agreements as it has affected all our economies as well.  

Excellencies, with the success of my predecessor H. E Mr. Alfredo Cabral Lopes, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, you will recall that we highlighted several issues that were of focus to our region and group in which we intended to address, Post Cotonou Negotiation, the political situation our region visa-vi the elections, regional approach towards the combat of COVID-19 with our development partner, anti-money laundering, and counterterrorism during our tenure.

Excellencies, during the period under review, many countries in our region went to elections in the latter part of last   year and we are glad that they were peacefully. The Republic of Ghana, The Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, The Republic of Niger, the Republic of Guinea, The Republic of Burkina Faso and my own country, the Republic of Liberia.  peaceful, fair, and transparent elections in our region strengthen stability and security, and further assist in attracting the partnership that is much needed to help us achieve rapid and sustainable development for our people. Similarly, we can safely say that the Post-2020 Contonou agreement is now finalize.

With regards to the anti-money laundering, and counterterrorism, I will like to thank H.E Madame Harriet Sena Siaw-Boateng, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana who has served as our regional representative to the Ad hoc Ministerial contact group on the European Union list of non-cooperative tax Jurisdiction, anti-money laundering and counter—terrorism has done so very diligently and profound.

Distinguish colleagues, the process of revision of our rules, guideline and protocol for the group is fast in progress.

Distinguish Ambassador and incoming Chair, you can always count on me for full support.

I will let to thank you once again. Thank you.

THANK YOU!!