By: Saidu Jalloh
A high-level delegation, comprising officials from the Ministry of Finance (MoF), National Revenue Authority (NRA), and Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), is currently in Kampala, Uganda, on a benchmarking visit to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). The primary objective of this visit is to gain insights and best practices in preparation for the imminent implementation of Sierra Leone’s Products Tracing System (PTS).
Leading the delegation is Commissioner-General Jeneba Kpaka Bangura (Mrs) of the National Revenue Authority. The PTS is a significant milestone for Sierra Leone, aiming to enhance its digital tracking systems for excisable goods. This comprehensive track-and-trace solution will oversee the entire supply chain process, from production or importation to distribution. A key element of its success is the mandatory affixation of digital tax stamps by manufacturers and/or importers, utilizing a combination of both manual and automated processes.
Scheduled to commence on Thursday, February 1, 2024, the PTS implementation is poised to combat illicit trade, safeguard consumers from substandard and counterfeit products, and bolster government revenue. The system’s innovative approach aims to ensure the integrity of products in the market, providing a transparent and accountable framework for manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of excisable goods in Sierra Leone.
The delegation’s visit to Uganda seeks to leverage the experience and success of the Uganda Revenue Authority’s Digital Tracking System, offering valuable insights to facilitate a seamless and effective roll-out of Sierra Leone’s PTS. As Sierra Leone enters this new phase in revenue collection and product regulation, stakeholders are optimistic that the PTS will contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth and the protection of its citizens from substandard goods.
