The Deputy Finance Minister for Fiscal Affairs, Atty. Dr. Samora P.Z. Wolokolie, has been nominated by President George Manneh Weah as Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA). Dr. Wolokolie is expected to appear before the Liberian Senate for confirmation hearing anytime soon.
President Weah nominated Dr. Wolokolie for the position after the demise of the former LRA boss, Thomas Doe Nah, in India after battling a prolonged illness.
In his letter of nomination addressed to the President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Prof. Albert T. Chie, President Weah said he had the honor to submit for confirmation consideration to the Liberian Senate Atty. Dr. Samora P.Z. Wolokolie for the position of Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA). The letter is dated December 27, 2023.
Dr. Wolokolie has over 18 years of impactful service in academics and public service, influencing and inspiring countless aspiring young Liberians through his role as a university assistant professor. His career spans public finance, certified public accounting, forensic auditing, and law, with a showmanship of ethical professionalism and dedication.
At Present, Dr. Wolokolie serves as the Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and manages the nation’s fiscal economy, designs fiscal policies and supervises all government accounting operations and expenditure proposals. His previous roles include Managing Partner at BICON Inc. Liberia, Director of Internal Audit at the Ministry of Finance, etc.
He is currently a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) student, reading economics at the Faculty of Social Science and Law, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and M.Sc. in forensic accounting and audit in February 2020 and February 2016 respectively, from the Charisma University in the Turks & Caicos Islands and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting from the Cuttington University in 2007, and a Bachelor of Law (L.L.B.) from the prestigious Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia in March 2021.
He is a member of several professional bodies, including the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana), Liberian Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (USA), International Institute of Certified Forensic Investigation Professionals, Liberian Institute of Tax Practitioners, Institute of the Financial Accountants (UK), and Institute of Public Accountants (Australia).
President Weah’s nomination of Dr. Wolokolie has received warm reception from the public, even though critics are questioning the legitimacy of the President appointing someone to a tenure post at the end of his administration. The Hot Pepper is yet to come across the questioning of Dr. Wolokolie’s academic credentials, professional experiences and ethical conformity.
Regarding President Weah appointing to a tenure post at the heels of his administration turning over to the in-coming Boakai-Koung administration, a legal luminary said the President is in the Constitutional confines to nominate and appoint anyone to any position, as the legal instrument gives him the authority to appoint and dismiss to his will and pleasure, and tenure positions are no exception.
Meanwhile, civil society actors have begun calling on the Liberian Senate to confirm Dr. Wolokolie to the position of Commissioner General of LRA, as he is competent and qualified for the position and has the charisma and pedigree to keep the LRA on the path of success.
