Speaking at the opening ceremony, Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority, Yankuba Darboe, said transfer pricing has become one of the most complex and rapidly evolving areas of international taxation, making it necessary for The Gambia to build the institutional capacity needed to respond to emerging global tax challenges.
He noted that although The Gambia may still be at an early stage in transfer pricing administration, the country is already witnessing cross-border transactions involving sectors such as banking, shipping and telecommunications.
“This mission is both timely and valuable,” Darboe said, adding that the Authority’s long-term objective is to institutionalise transfer pricing administration through the establishment of a dedicated team of specialised officers to oversee compliance, risk assessment and audits.
Deputy Commissioner for Tax Audit, Ebou Jallow, described transfer pricing as an important tool in safeguarding revenues, noting that multinational corporations often operate across several jurisdictions, increasing the risk of profit shifting and revenue losses.
“As revenue administrators, our responsibility is not only to collect taxes but also to maximise revenue collection by ensuring that taxpayers meet their obligations,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority, Essa Jallow, said the Authority has over the years invested heavily in staff capacity building and technological innovation to modernise tax administration.
He urged participants to take the training seriously and translate the knowledge gained into practical audit and compliance work.
Transfer Pricing Specialist at African Tax Administration Forum, Betty Ahwera, said Africa continues to lose billions of dollars annually through illicit financial flows and transfer mispricing.
She said the training aims to strengthen both the policy and administrative frameworks required for effective transfer pricing systems across African tax administrations.
Also speaking at the event was Alagie Jallow, Director of Tax and Revenue, Ministry of Finance who underscored the importance of collaboration between tax authorities, finance ministries and development partners in addressing complex international tax issues.
