The event was organised by GRA in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs under the Tax Education Unit held at the Governor’s Office in Janjangbureh on 19 October 2022
The objective of the sensitisation was to bring together the local authorities and business community in CRR and expose them to the various tax systems administered by GRA.
Speaking on behalf of the commissioner general of GRA, Matty Senghore, deputy director, Compliance and Taxpayers Education Unit, said the tax seminar was part of GRAs current corporate Strategic Plan 2020-2024 Goal 2; optimise client service delivery for improved customer relation and corporate image.
She indicated that the seminar would be centered on the Gambian Tax System, the accompanying Revenue Laws and the Taxpayers obligations and rights.
She cited that the event is special in many aspects in that it is taking place in one of the biggest regions in the country. Also, the seminar is the first engagement in CRR since the appointments of some of the regional Authorities by the Third Republic.
“We hope that this engagement with you will therefore deepen your knowledge about GRA’s mandate and its operations, the significance of tax revenue in national development and other tax administrative matters in general.”
Already, similar engagements had been held with other regional representatives in Upper River,
North Bank and West Coast Regions.
“The Authority has also engaged other key stakeholders as well as the key tertiary institutions in a series of programmes to deepen their understanding on revenue management and administration.”
“The seminars today will also discuss new tax reforms and clarify challenges faced by the authority and taxpayers in the process of collecting the much needed tax revenues for government,” she stated.
“For example , in January 2018, the GRA together with the Ministry of Finance had undertaken reforms aimed at revising tax rates in some key revenue lines. These include among others, Rental Income Tax, Corporate Income, Employment Tax and Individual Income Tax. “The duty rates on rice have also been reduced from 10% to 0%.”
“It is our hope that these reforms will accord positive impact on the living standards of the citizenry.”
“Today’s forum gives me great hope and confidence that this seminar will generate remarkable understanding and cooperation between GRA, CRR Regional Authorities and the business community which will go a long way in enhancing voluntary compliance among others.”
Speaking on behalf of the governor of Central River Region, Sainey Mbye, the deputy governor, welcomed all participants to the seminar, while emphasising that the Gambia is a tax based country and without tax, it would be difficult to move the country forward.
“As a government, we need a sustainable source of funding to foster economic growth and development. This can only be a reality of proper tax collection.”
“Today we are here to be informed about proper tax policies and programmes so this event is important indeed and must be taken seriously.”
