The Gambia government Tuesday announced that it has accepted the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Tax Evasion and other Corrupt Practices, established in November 2011 by President Yahya Jammeh to look into tax evasion and other corrupt practices of accountants, legal practitioners, companies, and private persons, medical practitioners and institutions required to pay tax to the Gambia Revenue Authority.
In a statement issued late Tuesday, the government said a ‘White Paper’ has been published in The Gambia Gazette accepting the recommendations in the report of the Commission of Inquiry into Tax Evasion and other Corrupt Practices in The Gambia from 1999 to 2011.
The commission was also mandated, among other things, to ascertain the extent of loss of public revenue resulting from non-payment of capital gains tax, personal income tax and sales tax; and to determine the role of individuals, groups and professional bodies in the evasion and avoidance of tax.
It was also tasked to enquire into professional malpractice by members of the public as it relates to obtaining goods through widespread issuance of false and dud cheques and other malpractices by members of professional bodies as these have affected foreign direct investment in The Gambia.
Below is the full text of the press release.
The Government of The Gambia hereby informs the general public that a White Paper has been published in The Gambia Gazette accepting the recommendations in the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Tax Evasion and other Corrupt Practices in The Gambia from 1999 to 2011. The adverse findings made against individuals and companies in the Report of the Commission of Inquiry are therefore binding and must be complied with. For the avoidance of doubt, any compromise or negotiation of the Commission of Inquiry’s findings and recommendations are unlawful and null and void.
Only the Commission of Inquiry’s findings and recommendations as accepted in the Government White Paper have legal force except as may be varied by the Court of Appeal of The Gambia. Affected individuals and companies are urged to settle the amounts owed as indicated in the Commission of Inquiry Report and accepted in the Government White Paper.
