The ceremony was presided over by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Seedy Keita, at the MOFEA conference hall.
The newly appointed and sworn members of the tax tribunal include the following: Hon. Justice George Appah Kwanbeng, who is president of the Tax Tribunal, Mr Sheriff Kumba Jobe, Mr Bakary Sanyang , Mr Lamin S. Jatta, and Mamour Joof, members.
In his welcoming speech on the occasion, GRA Commissioner General Yankuba Darboe said he was delighted to be part of the auspicious inauguration of the newly appointed members of the Tax Tribunal.
“This is indeed a momentous day as we mark a significant milestone in the evolution of our taxation system and our pursuit of fairness, justice and transparency in our tax administration system,” he said.
On behalf of the GRA board and management, CG Darboe extended heartfelt congratulations to the newly appointed members of the Tax Tribunal and commended them for accepting to serve in “this distinguished” capacity. “The selection to serve in the Tax tribunal is testament to your knowledge, expertise, integrity and commitment to upholding the principles of justice and fairness in our administration system,” he said.
The prudent and focused GRA Commissioner General said further: “I have full confidence that each of you will bring your individual experiences to bear on the tribunal, and I have no doubt that you will discharge your duties with diligence and utmost impartiality.”
According to CG Darboe, the tax tribunal is established under section 256 of the Income and Value Added Tax Act to hear applications for review of reviewable made by the Commissioner General or officers acting under his Authority.
He cited that the establishment of a tax tribunal under our laws is aimed at providing avenue for taxpayers to not only challenge the tax assessments of GRA but also to offer taxpayers an independent avenue to seek redress in taxation decision made by GRA.
He also stated that the appointment of members of the tax tribunal is a crucial component of the government’s commitment to building a fair, transparent and a just taxation system that ensures that taxpayers pay their share of the tax burden but at the same time are not made to pay more than their fair share of the tax burden. “I wish to commend the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs for his continuous support over the years and for his commitment towards the proper functioning of the tax tribunal,” he said, adding that GRA is fully committed to supporting the Tax tribunal in every possible way.
Presiding over the swearing-in ceremony, Hon. Seedy Keita said: “The establishment of the Tax Tribunal represents a significant milestone in our on-going efforts to provide an effective and accessible avenue for addressing taxpayers’ grievances.
“We recognise the importance of a dispute resolution mechanism that not only upholds the principles of justice but also instills confidence in our citizens that their concerns are heard and addressed impartially by an independent body.”
