As Tasked By Government
By Mustapha Jallow
Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General of The Gambia Revenue Authority on Tuesday said his institution is still struggling to collect D13.5 revenue, as tasked by the Government.
CG Darboe made this disclosure on Tuesday 2nd August 2022, during an interview with the presenter of the ‘state of affairs’ show on QTV.
According to CG Darboe, last year, GRA was able to meet its annual revenue collection amounting to D12.5 billion, despite the numerous challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. He said this was achieved through the revenue authority’s new digitalise technology tools and systems on revenue collection.
He however said that the two predators, COVID-19 and the war in Eastern Europe, is also making world revenues weaker.
For the 2022 collections, GRA’s Commissioner General indicated that they are still struggling to meet the target and will use the same methods or digital tools to achieve their goals in collecting D13.5 billion as tasked by the Government.
“Our aim is to get that amount. We [will] do our utmost best to ensure whatever Government target is given to us, we work hard to get that. It is a kind of contract between the Government and us. So once we agree on something, the institution will do everything humanely possible to achieve our target,” Darboe explained; that since the creation of GRA, its revenue collection and efficiencies are increasing every year, saying it is only through having a good staff within the institution that will enable them mobilise the needed revenue for the Government.
CG Darboe told panelists of the show that Gambia is a tax-based country and most of the nations’ developments funds come from the revenue collections. He said despite all the hardship, his management will strive to ensure GRA meets the set revenue target for 2022.
The GRA CG also highlighted many important issues particularly the roles between local councilS and the revenue authority. He said GRA collects road taxes with more efficiency and effectiveness.
