By Ndey Sowe
The Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Yankuba Darboe, has called on the University of The Gambia (UTG) to incorporate taxation into its curriculum, stressing the importance it would have for students and the country’s tax administration.
Speaking on Thursday at GRA headquarters in Banjul during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Authority and UTG, Darboe said universities in other countries already have taxation units or departments, and The Gambia should follow suit.
“I believe this MOU can also bring taxation as part of the curriculum of the university. When students graduate with majors in taxation, they will be well-prepared, and GRA will give them priority when recruiting staff,” Darboe noted.
The MOU sets out cooperation in areas including capacity building through short courses, workshops and certification programs; establishment of research and policy think tanks; exchange of academic materials and publications; institutional support; and development of case studies for training purposes.
Darboe emphasized that introducing taxation studies would not only give students a competitive advantage but also strengthen GRA’s reform agenda. “This country is ours, and nobody will come from outside to develop it for us. Together we can make The Gambia proud,” he said.
UTG Vice Chancellor Professor Herbert Robinson, Director of Research Dr. Lang Sanyang, and Professor Christopher Belford of CIFAL Banjul welcomed the partnership, describing the MOU as “exceptional” and a milestone in GRA–UTG collaboration. They assured their commitment to supporting GRA in its policy drive.
Deputy Commissioner General Essa Jallow also hailed the agreement, noting that capacity building is central to the MOU. “This is a win-win partnership that we have been working on for some time. It will strengthen our institutions and create more opportunities,” he said.
