The visas required by senior staff and other personnel to travel abroad mainly for meetings and conferences are reportedly restricted prompting not only “unnecessary delays” but also “superfluous refusals”.
The GRA, whose main function stipulated by an Act of Parliament includes “maximise revenue collection and economic sovereignty with self-reliance” is also part of important international organisations operating effectively across the world.
Thus, since the announcement, GRA partners overseas argued that any kind of “delay or interruption in issuance of visas to its officials may have tremendous effect or even negative repercussion on The Gambian economy.”
Officials also underscored “the proper way and manner” regarding how resources are judiciously spent and how tax revenue collections are subsidising and developing infrastructure and expanding Gambia government services.”
Further responding to our inquiries, a World Customs Organisation (WCO) official noted: “Even though The Gambia is small, with narrow economic base, the country’s transparency taxation method is highly respected across the board…Bigger and more developed countries are even learning from GRA.”
The WCO, the intercontinental organisation based in Brussels, Belgium, works on customs-related matters including development of international conventions.
However, the official also revealed: “Just few months ago, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, the Secretary General of the WCO visited the GRA and was overwhelmed with its customs reform…”
According to the WCO official: “GRA’s progress in customs modernisation, including the ongoing migration of its system from ASYCUDA ++ to the world version was also highlighted…the improvement is tremendous…therefore every effort will be done to resolve the visa problem amicably. The concerns of both parties must be respected”.
It is vital to note that recently, certain Gambian officials complained of “refusal” to facilitate visa issuance to certain Gambian officials including senior GRA staff. The problem includes “wave of rejections, delays and subjecting applicants using technical barriers.”
But The Gambia is among a list of countries enduring a “visa penalties” imposed due to alleged refusal to accept to repatriate its citizens from the UK and other EU nations.
