That is why the government’s new Digital Duty Waiver Application System deserves cautious applause.
On paper, it is exactly what a modern economy needs. A shift from manual paper-chasing to a traceable, transparent digital portal. A clear timeline: 48 hours at the desk, 72 hours for a decision if all requirements are met.
SMS alerts instead of endless follow-ups. Defined responsibilities instead of bureaucratic ping-pong. It is, as the Ministry of Finance says, part of a wider push to modernise public services.
We commend the government for the move. This is long overdue.
The Gambia Revenue Authority’s five-year digitalisation programme (2025-2029) envisions a paperless office. If implemented, this single reform can reduce corruption leakages, improve investor confidence, cut clearance times at the port, and restore trust between the state and the private sector.
As clearing agents themselves have admitted, they have suffered most from the old system. But herein lies the challenge: The Gambia is littered with brilliant launches and poor implementation.
A portal is only as good as the people behind it. Will the 48-hour commitment at each desk be enforced, or will "network issues" and "system down" become the new excuse for the old delays? Will the system be truly transparent, showing applicants where their file is stuck and who is holding it? Will it be accessible to all, including small businesses outside Banjul who may lack digital literacy?
The Ministry must go beyond the launch workshop. Three things will determine success that is enforcement; accessibility and integrity.
The system will significantly reduce human discretion that breeds rent-seeking. If an application meets the criteria, it should be approved. If not, it should be rejected with clear reasons — within 72 hours.
The promise of 72 hours is bold. For businesses waiting on equipment, for NGOs bringing in humanitarian goods, for investors watching how we do business, that promise matters.
Government has taken the first step. Now it must make the system work — not just launch it.