By Mustapha Jallow
Yankuba Darboe, the Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) on Wednesday officially opened the 12th meeting of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) for West and Central Africa (WCA) region for Human Resources (HR) managers.
The event is hosted in Banjul by GRA under the theme: “The regional strategy for Human Resources management in the context of digitization and the implementation of planning of workforce, jobs, and skills.”
This development comes when GRA and other scores of regional tax administrators and experts recently attended the 6th policy dialogue meeting in Bissau, Guinea, to discuss and find lasting solutions to challenges gripping the regional revenue authorities.
The 3-day meeting, according to GRA, will give the officials and other representatives opportunities to learn from each other through presentations, discussions, and sharing of experiences, with a specific focus on the very critical field of Human Resources and Training under the mentioned theme.
While addressing delegates from The Gambia {GRA and ministry of finance officials}, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Gabon, Benin, Liberia, and other West and Central African countries, CG Darboe expressed gratitude to WOC-WCA for giving GRA another opportunity in hosting this important event in Banjul.
He also talked about how his institution has since recognized the importance of investing in its workforce, saying through their commitment to training, development, and employee well-being — they have cultivated a competent, motivated, and taxpayer-focused team.
Darboe went further to explain some of the successes his institution registered through commitment and competence by his staff, who work as a team to achieve its goals.
Additionally, he said: “Our competency-based approach to training has resulted in the development of a comprehensive Training Policy and Strategy.”
Over the next three days, the GRA boss added: “We will have the opportunity to share best practices, identify common challenges, and explore emerging trends in human resources management. By working together, we
can develop a more effective and efficient regional strategy.”
According to him, the digital transformation of human resources is no longer a luxury but a necessity. By leveraging technology, he says they can enhance efficiency, improve employee experience, and better meet the evolving needs of their organizations.
“I am confident that through our discussions and collaboration, we will be able to develop actional recommendations that will contribute to the development of a more competent, committed, and motivated workforce across the region,” CG Darboe stated.
He said: “We believe that by working together and sharing our experiences, we can develop innovative solutions to the complex challenges that confront our respective organizations.”
Darboe also encouraged regional delegates to take some time to explore the beauty of The Gambia, saying the country offers a unique blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and warm hospitality.
Alhagie Jallow, a representative of the finance ministry, who spoke on behalf of the minister, said cross borders also grow and human resource professionals are increasingly tasked with navigating tax complex regulations and policies.
Therefore, he said this training makes it very essential for businesses that are specialized in tax administration and customs processes.
Understanding the tax laws in each country, according to him, it is vital to ensuring that businesses remain compliant, noting that human resources within the customs administration must be equipped to navigate the complex growing environment of International Trade and cross-border activities.
“This will require human resources to integrate digitalization in our daily business processes that promote highly skilled and smart job planning of custom administration. Custom regulation is important, especially for industries involved in cross border trade,” Jallow says.
