GRA Amplifies Training on Reform, Modernization

The training, organized by GRA and funded by GIZ through World Customs Organization’s capacity building directorate.

At the opening, Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General of Gambia Revenue Authority, said the follow-up project support to Gambia was intended to further strengthen GRA’s reforms and modernisation efforts and to help develop the Authority’s business continuity plan document.

Commissioner Darboe noted that GRA in collaboration with GIZ and WCO has undertaken many reforms and modernization projects to implement the priority trade facilitation measures of the WTO-TFA since 2019.

These projects, he added, included but not limited to Time Release Study (TRS) and Risk Management, undertaken to bring about improved efficiency in the Authority’s clearance processes and procedures and to make the Gambia an attractive place for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

“The Authority through its Corporate Strategic Plan 2020-2024, has taken the implementation of trade facilitation measures as one of its strategic priority objectives. And today’s workshop is yet another clear testimony of the continued collaboration that exists between GRA and its national and international partners to achieve this strategic objective”.

He assured that GRA board and management are fully committed to providing the necessary resource to undertake the necessary reforms needed, which he added, would further enhance trade facilitation while at the same time optimising control.

For his part Benard Ebinden, Regional Development Manager West and Central Africa, World Customs Organisation, thanked GRA for partnering with them and assured of their continued support to the reforms and modernisation of GRA to improve tax collection for the country.

“We have done a lot in the Authority in the area like risk management and other things and still we are committed in supporting GRA in areas like training capacities for staff and other important aspect to see the authority to another level.”

Alieu Bittaye and Lucy Fye Jagne Director of Risk Management at GRA and the board chairperson respectively, both thanked GIZ through WCO for the partnership.

The project, they acknowledged, started way back in 2018 and the implementation started in 2019 to 2020 which has achieved a lot for the authority.