The training was being organized by GRA Legal and Board Services Department with support from the French Development Agency (AFD). However, the forum according to official couldn’t have come at a better time as we ushered in 2023.
At the opening ceremony, Essa Jallow, deputy Commissioner General and head of Domestic Revenue Mobilisation at GRA, expressed appreciation to be associated with the forum, saying the event was designed to remind GRA staff about their roles and responsibilities as revenue collectors.
To that end, Jallow expressed the need for staff to be familiar with the country’s revenue laws to able to effectively discharge their functions.
He further thanked AFD for funding the training on our revenue laws through the Domestic Revenue Mobilisation DRM project. He also spoke extensively about the essence of the training.
“We must recognize the inextricable link between increasing revenue collection and having the appropriate laws and best tax administration practices. As a tax administration, we will continue to pursue and implement sound policies, legislation and systems in order to modernise our processes and procedures so as to enhance revenue collection and improve the delivery of taxpayer services.”
Jallow reminded that one of the principal responsibilities of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs is to formulate tax policies, which he said, are enacted into law by the National Assembly.
“Once these revenue laws are passed they become working tools for us as we need to apply them in our day-to-day work.”
Thus, he maintained that without knowing and understanding the law one cannot apply it, adding that it is also obvious that without adequate knowledge of the law one cannot tax correctly.
“We may not be tax fully based on the scope of application of the law. We may also fall short of treating taxpayers fairly by making sure that they are taxed-based on the dictates of the law.”
He added; “It is based on the aforementioned reasons why management deemed it is necessary to train its staff on the revenue laws.”
“I believe that after this training you will possess the requisite legal skills and knowledge to enhance your job performance, contribute effectively towards our Domestic Revenue Mobilisation goals and demonstrate an excellent professional competence and due care to our esteemed taxpayers.”
