The
Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), in collaboration with the Gambia Technical
Training Institute (GTTI), on Thursday organised a daylong seminar on tax
payment and Value Added Tax (VAT) for GTTI students and GTTI staff.
The
training session, held at the GTTI school grounds, aimed at increasing the
student’s awareness and knowledge on taxation, as future taxpayers, thereby
strengthening their moral obligation to pay taxes voluntarily.
Deputy
Director for Compliance, Taxpayer Education and Training, Sulayman Barry, who
deputised for GRA’s Commissioner General at the function, said GRA as the main
revenue collection agency for the government “is committed to ensuring that
they play their rightful part in the mobilisation of domestic financial
resources, to enhance the country’s financial independence and sovereignty.”
In
this regard, Mr Barry explained, they encourage and promote collaboration with
stakeholders, and look forward to continuing their support to enable GRA discharge
its mandate efficiently and effectively, for the benefit of the country.
“As
a tax authority, we are aware that to attain voluntary compliance, tax
education plays a crucial role. This is why the authority invests significantly
in the taxpayer education programme.”
They
also recognise the fact that for a long-term cultural shift, it is important
that tax education and awareness is provided at the early stages of
development.
“The
extension of our taxpayer education programme to the schools and colleges,
therefore, reflect the efforts we are making to bring about a long-term
cultural shift in attitudes and behaviour towards taxes.”
The
college stage is a crucial time to educate young people in tax matters as part
of their transition to the job market, he added.
Barry
continued: “Our main aim for organising this seminar is to increase your
awareness and knowledge as future taxpayers, thereby strengthening your moral
obligation to pay taxes voluntarily.
“We
also expect that when you are equipped with tax knowledge, you will be in a
position to positively influence the attitudes of your parents/guardians and,
by extension, your respective community members.”
He
further stated: “As the youth of the nation, you are important agents of
change, and with increased awareness in tax matters, the tax literacy of the
country can be enhanced and, by extension, create a future in which paying
taxes is regarded as a vital civic duty.”
The
Director of Academics at GTTI, Edward C. Mansal, thanked GRA for organising the
training course for students and their staff, which he said was timely.
Mr
Mansal announced that GTTI had incorporated into their diploma programmes the
Micro and Small Enterprise Promotion Training (MSEPT) course.
The
programme, he said, is aimed at providing basic training to students to be job
creators rather than job seekers.
“Therefore,
being privileged to attend this training will contribute immensely towards
being effective and efficient in the role we can and should play in domestic
resource mobilization.”
He
challenged the beneficiaries to share the knowledge gained from the seminar
with their partners not present.
