Speaking at the opening, Yankuba Darboe, commissioner general, GRA, described the event “very important” as it’s the first engagement with the Youth Chamber of Commerce members which he said couldn’t have been timelier.
“We hope that this engagement will enhance your understanding about GRA’s mandate and its operations; the significance of tax revenue in national development and other tax administrative matters in general,” he said. “As members of the Youth Chamber, you are engaged in economic activities or aspiring to become entrepreneurs, therefore it is important to understand basic fundamentals of doing business in The Gambia particularly on tax related matters to enhance compliance.”
CG Darboe disclosed that the seminar was funded by the – project support to strengthen capacities of National Institution responsible for economic management and evidence-based policy, planning and budgeting to achieve inclusive growth and poverty reduction in The Gambia.
The project also funded other engagement forums with other youth groups like small medium enterprise through the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and industry (GCCI) as well as key tertiary institutions in series of programmes to enhance their understanding on revenue management and administrations.
“The GRA therefore recognises and appreciates the budget support we continue to receive from the EMP Project,” Mr. Darboe said.
“The GRA’s engagement with you will be a continuous process as it strives to transform and automate the revenue collection processes to enhance efficiency and boost revenue collection,” he added. “The Authority launched the Automated Customs Data (ASYCUDA World) in June 2022. Since its implementation, the system has significantly increased the Authority’s monthly revenue collection.”
“Currently the Authority is in the process of replacing the Domestic Tax system GAMTAXNET with a more robust web-based system called the Integrated Tax Management System (ITAS) earmarked to facilitate online payment and filing of tax returns and significantly reduce the burden on taxpayers in the process of paying their taxes.”
According to CG Darboe, the Authority with other stakeholders will soon implement the single window platform that integrates all agencies involved in The Gambia’s international trade ecosystem to enhance efficiency in the clearance of goods. “With the above reform initiatives, it is crucial that our stakeholders and the citizens in general are well informed and sensitised on these reform programmes.”
