By Sallieu S, Kanu
Sierra Leone – August 18, 2026: The National Revenue Authority (NRA) has announced the appointment of Mr. Abu Martin Kanneh as Commissioner General, following presidential approval of new leadership. His appointment comes at a critical time, as the institution faces intense scrutiny after a damning Anti‑Corruption Commission (ACC) report revealed systemic failures and massive revenue losses.
Mr. Kanneh joined the NRA in 2004 as a Collector and steadily rose through the ranks. He served as Commissioner of Customs Services, where he oversaw customs duties, border controls, and trade facilitation initiatives aimed at boosting compliance and revenue mobilization. He later became Senior Director of the Staff Welfare Department, contributing to institutional reforms and staff development.
With over two decades of experience in public and revenue administration, Mr. Kanneh is expected to bring strategic leadership and reform‑driven oversight to the Authority.
ACC Report Findings
The ACC’s July 2026 report highlighted serious lapses within the NRA, including:
- Over Le300 billion in government revenue lost due to unauthorized deletions in the ASYCUDA customs system.
- Evidence of backend technical abuse, bypassing ordinary front‑end operations.
- Use of dormant and unauthorized bank teller profiles to validate transactions long after account holders had left their institutions.
- Audit trail failures and weak disaster recovery safeguards.
- Indications of a coordinated scheme involving staff with ICT privileges, pointing to collusion and institutional control breakdowns.
The report concluded that these failures undermined public trust and demanded urgent corrective measures.
Mr. Kanneh assumes leadership as the NRA seeks to:strengthen domestic revenue mobilization, enhance taxpayer compliance, promote transparency in revenue administration, and restore public confidence following the ACC’s revelations.
The NRA Board, senior management, and staff congratulated Mr. Kanneh on his appointment, expressing confidence in his ability to lead reforms and strengthen accountability within the institution.