By: Bakary Touray Jr
A day-long Tax Seminar organised by Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Gambia Women’s Chamber of Commerce (GWCC), to educate Gambian women in business on the tax system of The Gambia and their duties as taxpayers, was recently convened at the Senegambia Beach Hotel.
Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Gambia’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, the seminar was held through the Compliance and Taxpayers Education Unit, under the Directorate of Technical Services of GRA.
The Director of Finance and Accounting, Mr. Alhagie Saihou Denton, speaking at the opening on behalf of the GRA Commissioner General Mr.Yankuba Darboe, expressed profound thanks and gratitude to the UNDP Economic Management Project, under the Ministry of Finance & Economic Affairs, for sponsoring that important event.
He said the seminar was in accordance with GRA’s Stakeholder Engagement strategy to educate and sensitize their stakeholders, taxpayers as well as the general public, on tax policies, revenue laws and relevant tax administration matters.
Denton told the participants GRA is cognizant of the fact that, engagement with stakeholders like GWCC could improve tax compliance, since all the members of the Chamber are engaged in economic ventures.
The participants heard that the seminar would also discuss new tax reforms and highlight challenges faced by the Authority in the process of collecting the much-needed tax revenues for Government.
Denton highlighted that, the day’s seminar was of great importance in that, discussions were to be centred on the Gambian tax system and regimes; taxpayer obligations and rights; tax revenue collection processes and procedures; and also challenges in revenue mobilisation.
“This forum will also avail participants the opportunity to express your concerns on issues related to taxation in The Gambia,” he stated.
The GRA financial chief said he’s quite “hopeful and confident” that the seminar would generate remarkable understanding about taxation in The Gambia, adding it’s also expected to foster greater cooperation between GRA and the GWCC “which will go a long way in promoting voluntary tax compliance”. He had implored the participants to participate fully by asking questions so as to make the session a successful and interactive one.
Denton puts on record their gratitude to the government, it’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, and the UNDP, for the support and cooperation in strengthening taxpayer education Programs and other tax legislative initiatives.
Board Chair of GRA, Madam Lucy M. Fye-Jagne thanked UNDP Economic Management Project under the Finance Ministry for sponsoring that important event. The senior GRA official showed appreciation to be part of the seminar which was part of GRA stakeholder engagement strategy. She posited that, it was one way of promoting a conducive environment for the women to prosper through understanding their responsibilities as prominent businesswomen.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GWCC, Madam Beatrice Prom, speaking at the event, commended GRA and the UNDP through the Ministry of Finance for organising that kind of tax seminar for the women of their Chamber. She reasoned it was one way of motivating and educating the women to be tax compliant.
Prom, however, encouraged the GRA to extend that kind of forum so as to better help women to know about tax compliance.
