By Kemo Kanyi
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has collected D5.2 billion between January and March of 2024 as it works towards a target of D19.2 billion set by the government of The Gambia.
This was disclosed by GRA’s Commissioner General YankubaDarboe, during a press conference held at GRA’s headquarter in Banjul yesterday.
“Now, to start with the beginning of the year, you are all aware that GRA has been given a very difficult task, and that is to mobilize or collect 19.2 billion for the year. Of course, this was a very difficult task for us, but we believe that we can do it,” he said.
“We’ve taken up the responsibility, and from January end, we could collect D1.7 billion. In February, we were able to collect over 1.4 billion. Now, the biggest amount of collection or the highest collection ever in the history of GRA comes at the end of March when we were able to collect over D2 billion. This is the biggest collection so far in the history of GRA,” the Commissioner General revealed.
He sought the support of the government and the Ministry of Finance towards the success recorded within the first quarter of 2024. Darboe says the line ministry helps them get to areas where the GRA could not ordinarily get to, such as the rental income generation. He continued: “The Finance Ministry helps by writing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in reaching areas where foreign diplomats reside to follow due protocol.”
Darboe further informed that some key divisions that helped GRA to mobilize huge income, including the introduction of ASIKUDA wall, E-Tax system, E-tracking system, Bonded warehouse creation, CCTV camera installation at border posts, the digital weighing bridge at the Gambia Ports Authority and Container detectors system.
“One of the major reforms that we were able to achieve last year was the establishment of the ASIKUDA Wall System, of which importers and their agents once they have their original documents can do their declarations from the start to the end. They do all the necessary calculations through the system and do a printout. They can go to any commercial bank to affect their payments. So the Asikuda wall is what is helping us achieve that,” he explained.
Mr. Darboe says the I-tax system is also web-based and, when ready, it will interface with ASIKUDA so that the information will be exchanged between them.
He mentioned that the E-tracking system is developed to monitor these products, having the tracker installed on the vehicle transporting those warehouse products so that the GRA will be able to track them whether they are in the country or have exited. The CCTV installation at border posts also plays a significant role in monitoring, he said.
Mr. Darboe said the digital weighing bridge at the Gambia Ports Authority also helps in collecting the actual monetary value of goods on arrival at the ports.
“The state-of-the-art digital weighing bridge at the ports, which after receiving a lot of goods will be charged based on weight. Before, we didn’t have that kind at the port when the goods came in bulk as cargo. Generally, goods like rice, sugar, or cement are not put in the container, but they come in bulk, we charge them based on weight and equally port authority charge, as well as their handling and whatever charges they have through it,” he stated.
He added that in the past, what used to happen was that the businessman would tell them he had for example 10 000 metric tons or 20 000 metric tons. Then, they had difficulty to verify such claims.
“We thought it was important that we have a better weighing system so that every truck that is loaded will come and pass through there. Then, the actual weight that the vessel brought will correctly be charged,” he said.
“These are the kinds of things that we are doing to enhance our revenue collection. We are not increasing any rate. We are not even charging anybody extra. We are only broadening our tax base and also bringing into the tax bracket those who are not in it. This is what we are doing,” he explained.
