By: Kebba AF Touray
The Gambia Revenue Authority has recently engaged The Gambia Women Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) on a day long tax compliance seminar at the a local hotel.
The Forum was organised by the Gambia Revenue Authority (through the Compliance & Taxpayers Education Unit, under the Directorate of Technical Services) with support from UNDP-through Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.
Alhagie Saihou Denton on behalf of the Commissioner General (GRA) expressed profound thanks and gratitude to the UNDP Economic Management Project, under the Ministry of Finance & Economic Affairs, for sponsoring this important event.
He said the seminar is in accordance with GRA’s Stakeholder Engagement strategy to educate and sensitize our Stakeholders, Taxpayers, and the general public, on Tax policies, Revenue Laws and relevant Tax Administration matters.
He cited that GRA is cognizant of the fact that engagement with stakeholders like the Gambia Women Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) can improve tax compliance, since all the members of the Chamber are engaged in the economic ventures.
He said: “The seminar will also discuss new tax reforms and highlight challenges faced by the Authority in the process of collecting the much-needed Tax revenues for Government”.
He added: “Today’s seminar is of great importance in that, discussions will be centred on the Gambian tax system and regimes, taxpayer obligations & rights, tax revenue collection processes & procedures as well as challenges in revenue mobilisation. This forum will also avail participants the opportunity to express their concerns on issues related to taxation in The Gambia”.
He expressed: “Thus, I am quite hopeful and confident that, this seminar will generate remarkable understanding about taxation in The Gambia. This is also expected to foster greater cooperation between GRA and the GWCC which will go a long way in promoting voluntary tax compliance”.
He implored the participants to participate fully by asking questions to make the session a successful and interactive one, so as to enhance their understanding of tax issues and knowledge sharing.
He thanked the Government of The Gambia, the UNDP and Ministry of Finance for the support and cooperation in strengthening Taxpayer Education Programs and other Tax legislative initiatives.
For his part, Board chair GRA Madam Lucy M. Lucy Fye-Jagne thanked UNDP Economic Management Project under the ministry of finance and Economic Affairs for sponsoring this important event.
She was quick to express appreciation to be part of this important tax seminar which is part of GRA stakeholder Engagement strategy.
She said this is one way of promoting a conducive environment, for the women to prosper through understanding their responsibility as a prominent businessman.
The Chief Executive Officer of Gambia Women Chamber of commerce GWCC, Beatric Prom equally commended GRA and the UNDP through the ministry of finance for organising this kind of tax seminar for the women of the chamber.
Beatrice Mboge, Executive Director GWCC
She said this is one way of motivating and educating the women to be tax compliant. She went to urge the GRA to extend this kind of forum to better help the women to know about tax compliant.
