“Henceforth business will not be as usual, considering the level of revenue target assigned to GRA by Government to collect within 12 months,” Mr Darboe said while addressing GRA staff at Jarra Soma Customs Post during a GRA Board tour on Thursday.
“Since not everyone is willing to voluntarily pay or honour their tax obligation, GRA has no option but to go after them,” he emphasised, in spite of GRA having limited staff to go everywhere in the country.
Despite the fact that the level of tax compliance from some businesses like the GSM companies has “drastically improved, GRA is still facing enormous challenges on revenue mobilisation” in the formal sector and rental income, CG Darboe stated: “However, GRA will take a new paradigm shift to ensure that taxes due to Government are paid.”
According to him, “2024 will be a very tough year” in the sense that GRA would do everything humanely possible to collect what is due them by ensuring those engaged in productive businesses settle their dues to the state.
Mr Darboe challenged his staff to act with professionalism and adopt the culture of non-compromise in the payment of taxes, considering that there are daunting challenges ahead in 2024. “Collecting D19 billion is really not a joke, it needs serious minded people,” he added.
He told GRA’s provincial staff that as Government increases annual revenue target, GRA is compelled to exert more effort into meeting the target or assignment.
GRA will do everything humanely possible to ensure that the target given them is achieved, CG Darboe said, adding that in 2023 GRA was tasked to collect D15.2 billion and in 2024 government had increased the annual revenue target to D19 billion.
“Therefore, business will not be as usual, as all hands will be on deck to collect what is assigned to GRA within 12 months,” he said.
He therefore encouraged GRA staff to re-double their efforts and show more commitment towards attaining the target. “GRA will not relent in its efforts to raising the bar high through digitalisation in revenue generation,” he said, adding that the GRA Board and Management would do everything “humanely possible to address key challenges of staff to effectively and efficiently deliver up to expectations.
This interest, he said, prompted GRA Board and top management to embark on treks upcountry to meet and discuss with staff at the regional offices to get firsthand information about their concerns and challenges to find ways to immediately address them.
He also spoke extensively about the complementary efforts of sister security agencies and personnel, saying GRA could not do it all alone but with the help of sister institutions and the forces. “I am very impressed with the level of cooperation from the sister security forces on the ground,” he said, adding that could not do revenue collection in the absence of peace and stability in a country.
The GRA boss expressed profound gratitude to the service chiefs, for working with GRA to enable them collect revenue for national development.
The revenue collected, he pointed out, is used for many purposes key among them is the construction of road projects, payment of salaries, building hospitals, and other very important interventions of government.
Therefore, payment of taxes should be everybody’s concern, he said.
For her part, GRA Board chairperson stressed the need for GRA staff to demonstrate professionalism in the course of discharging their mandate of collecting revenue.
GRA is a highly respected institution and has been commended for being the leading revenue collector in West Africa, she added, calling on the staff to maintain its positive track record and protect the image of the GRA.
She further commended the staff for their firm commitment, dedication and loyalty to the institution in ensuring that GRA perform relatively well, year in year out.
She also commended the leadership of GRA who have been very much concerned about the welfare of GRA staff.
Also speaking on the occasion, Essa Jallow, deputy commissioner general of GRA and head of Domestic Taxes, hailed the staff at the meeting for the warm welcome accorded the GRA Board and top management.
“There is no doubt the visit will boost the morale and motivate the staff on the ground,” he said, advising the staff to always demonstrate high sense of commitment to the assignment given them.
Mr Jallow added that GRA Board and management decided to embark on the visit to see all GRA offices and staff in the provinces to better know their constraints, progresses registered, and challenges and carve a way of improving their working conditions.
