By: Kebba AF Touray
The Commissioner General (CG) of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Yankuba Darboe has said that the total revenue collected by the authority was twelve billion, seven hundred and forty-one million, seven hundred and eighty-six thousand, eight hundred and thirty-six dalasi and eighteen bututs (D12,741,786,836.18) in 2021.
CG Darboe said this while delivering a report before the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) of the National Assembly during the presentation of their 2021 activity report and financial statements.
CG Darboe reported, “GRA collected a total revenue of D12,741,786,836.18 in 2021 which translates into 100 percent of its annual target, compared to the revenue collected in the corresponding period in 2020 of D11,807,925,060.95 total revenue collected in 2021.”
He said: “On revenue collection mandate, the GRA was set a revenue performance target of GMD12,793,761,035 in 2021, which anticipated a nominal growth of 8.35 percent or Nine Hundred and Eighty-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Five Dalasi (D985,835,975)”.
He said the amount D985,835,975 was over the actual revenue collection of D11,807,925,060.95, and the anticipated growth in revenue was premised on improved efficiency in revenue administration, lifting of travel restrictions and opening of land borders and airspace.
The anticipated growth he added was also premised on the resumption of the tourism hospitality industry and increase in demand for goods and services after covid-19 related lockdowns in 2020.
He stated that despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the GRA was able to meet its revenue target and thus achieved an important milestone.
The said total revenue collection in 2021 represented a nominal growth of D933,861,775.23 or 8 percent, saying the attainment of the 2021 revenue target by GRA equals the 9th time in ten years from 2012-2021.
He said that the Customs and Excise Department’s total revenue collection for the year 2021 totaled D7,093,234,506.07, which represented a 94 percent performance rate against the department’s annual revenue target of D7,538,528,525.
“Similarly, the Domestic Taxes Department total revenue collection for 2021 was D5,648,543,330.11, which represented D393,310,820.53 or 7 percent excess above the annual target. This represented a nominal growth of 12 percent or D586, 741,785.17 when compared to the 2020 annual collection of D5, 061,801,544.94,” CG Darboe told FPAC.
However, he stated that performance of international trade receipts in 2021 were negatively affected by numerous factors, which included the significant increase of freight charges globally, which was above 200 percent, high international commodity prices, increased ship handling charges, and covid-19 pandemic.
He added the factors also included high duty waiver (D2.062 billion), fuel subsidy (in excess of D325 million) and the negative impact of uncertainties and speculations around the Presidential Elections.
He stated: “All these factors led to more than 35 percent drop in import volumes of essential commodities, and 5 percent in their corresponding values on which imports tariffs are applied”.
However, the FPAC continued its engagement with the GRA for the consideration of the authority’s said reports on Monday 29th January 2024.
During the interface the committee sought clarity on issues such as the amount spent on capacity building which was in the tune of over D12 million to which the management of the GRA explained their firm stance on building the capacity of their staff to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in tax administration.
As such, the GRA explained that the fund was judiciously utilized to foot the bills of such training which were both within and overseas capacity building trainings for their staff.
