Addressing the opening, Saloum Malang, Director General of The Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA) underscored the role of Journalistsin national development, acknowledging that journalists cannot be left behind in any development process.
“That is why when they knock at the our doors, we deemed it fitting to make it feasible and welcoming as our mandate basically is to regulate and monitor and the training fails under that mandate.” he revealed.
Abdoulie Nyockeh, president of the Network of Financial and Tax Reporters (NFTR), described the training as special in many aspects given the fact that the forum attracted members of the media fraternity and key stakeholders to discuss the role and mandate of The Gambia Public Procurement Authority (GPPA).
The media, he added, plays a critical role in creating awareness especially in advocating for tax payment.
“The objective of the NFTR is to enhance the competence of Gambian journalists in Business, Finance and Taxation Reporting in Data Journalism. The forum marks the 8th NFTR Gambia Chapter Media engagement since its inception in 2019.”
“The essence of this forum is to bring the fourth estate who are very instrumental in sensitizing and educating the general public of issues of concern to national development with the view to expose them on the GPPA principles Act.” he continued.
NFTR is a non-profit making entity established purposely to promote and complement government efforts in creating strong collaboration between Tax Reporters and Revenue Administration in a bid to enhance tax education and awareness in supporting domestic resources.
