The delegation, spearheaded by GRA’s Commissioner General Yankuba Darboe, included Mr Essa Jallow, Deputy Commissioner General and Head of Domestic Taxes, Alhagie K. Mbye Commissioner of Customs, and Alhagie Saihou Denton, former director of Finance and Accounting at Gambia Revenue Authority now retired after working for the said authority for ages.
The topnotch GRA officials are expected to add resounding value to the august meeting of customs professionals, technocrats and other VIPs. And one of the crème de la crème in that all-important gathering is Gambia’s CG Yankuba Darboe, who doubles as the Chairman of West Africa Tax Administration Forum (WATAF).
At the WCO and other regional customs bodies, The Gambia is placed on a high pedestal as the country currently occupies very high level positions in those organisations, thanks to the efforts, professionalism and diligence of customs authorities such as CG Darboe, DCG Jallow, CC Mbye et al, inspired and supported by the customs gurus like Alhagie Saihou Denton who went on retirement after serving the GRA extremely well and currently serves as the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the West and Central Africa World Customs Organization.
The all-important meeting will elect a new Secretary General as well as look at the progress registered by the organisation and its achievements in order to carve the way forward after electing the new Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO).
It would be recalled that the Gambia Government through the Gambia Revenue Authority under the leadership of CG Yankuba Darboe recently hosted the WCO Directors General conference in The Gambia. That convergence brought representatives from all over the world and was successfully hosted by GRA and presided over by the Gambian leader H.E. President Adama Barrow at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Conference Centre in Bijilo.
During the WCO meeting in The Gambia, the directors general reviewed and discussed the border challenges affecting West and Central African countries, progress in the Region, customs modernisation, the African continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), capacity building needs and recommended greater regional cooperation from member states to address the region border security challenges.
Regarding the Brussels meeting or conclave, basically, it is an annual meeting where the Secretary General of WCO (World Customs Organization) will take the Member countries of about 185 through the work they have done within the year based on the strategic plan of the WCO.
Members who benefitted during the year will also comment on the capacity building they benefitted from and those Members who want capacity building will also make their request.
Furthermore, various presentations are made by different countries on specific projects they are engaged on. The chairman of the finance committee who is Gambia’s son Mr Denton will do the presentation of the WCO Finance Committee matters, covering financial statements, for the year 2022/23, Investments, Budgets, remuneration and various other financial requirements of the WCO.
The annual council will vote for a new Secretary General of WCO as the current SG’s two-term tenure has ended.
Similarly, the chairman of the council also has to be replaced as his term of 3 years ended this year.
Finally, The Gambia will also be given the opportunity to have accession to RKC i.e. Revised Kyoto Convention.
“The instrument of Accession will be submitted during this year’s meeting,” CG Darboe informed saying: “The RKC embodies best practices of our national legislations. Its implementation would enable The Gambia to meet its international commitments concerning trade and border proceedings.”
H.E. Pa Musa Jobarteh the Gambian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Belgium and European Union is invited to attend this very important ceremony which commences tomorrow Saturday.
