The Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Matthew Dingie, has assured the public that Sierra Leone remains on course in meeting its revenue generation targets, despite initial setbacks in early 2025.

Speaking during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s (MOIC) weekly press briefing, Dingie highlighted the country’s strong performance in 2024, achieving 99% of its revenue target.

However, he acknowledged a slight decline in revenue collection at the start of 2025, attributing it to over 2,000 Electronic Cash Register (ECR) machines being temporarily out of use. The malfunctioning of these machines, widely utilized for tracking business transactions, led to a shortfall in tax revenue. He noted that reluctance among some businesses to utilize the ECR system further compounded the issue.

To address this, the National Revenue Authority (NRA) engaged the service provider to resolve the technical challenges, leading to the full reactivation of all ECR machines. Dingie expressed optimism that revenue collection will see significant improvement by the end of March 2025.

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He also urged the public to play an active role in ensuring tax compliance by requesting NRA-issued receipts for all purchases and payments. “Tax compliance is a civic responsibility,” he emphasized, stressing that adherence to tax regulations is vital for national development.

The government remains committed to strengthening revenue mobilization efforts, ensuring economic stability, and funding essential public services