By: Fatou Krubally
In a decisive move to modernize tax administration and enhance fiscal transparency, the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MOFEA), on Tuesday signed a $7.27 million contract with the ARABSOFT TMI consortium to implement the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS). Funded by the World Bank, the 24-month project includes a two-year warranty and comprehensive capacity-building programs aimed at empowering local teams.
Presiding over the contract signing at the MOFEA Conference Room in Banjul, Finance Minister Hon. Seedy Keita hailed the event as a landmark moment in The Gambia’s economic development journey. “This is more than a contract; it is a declaration of intent, a bold commitment to modernise public financial management and embrace digital transformation,” he said.
Hon. Keita explained that ITAS will provide a unified, digital platform for tax registration, filing, payment, auditing, and enforcement. By streamlining these processes, the system is expected to reduce human error, curb malpractice, and elevate GRA operations to international standards.
The system will be fully integrated with critical national platforms, including the Central Bank, Accountant General’s Department, Companies Registry, National ID System, and Customs ASYCUDA World. This interconnectivity is expected to enhance real-time data sharing, improve compliance, and offer a comprehensive view of taxpayer activity across institutions.
For businesses and individuals, ITAS promises faster service, shorter queues, and greater convenience. For the government, the system will strengthen revenue forecasting, improve compliance, and enhance capacity to fund key development priorities such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social protection programs.
Hon. Keita emphasized that technology alone is not enough. “Success depends on people, training, knowledge, and ownership. That’s why ITAS includes an ambitious program to build the capacity of GRA staff and ensure the system is not only implemented but fully embraced,” he said, highlighting the project’s focus on sustainability.
Commissioner General of GRA, Yankuba Darboe, described the initiative as a transformative steps for the authority and the nation’s economic future. “ITAS will significantly reduce the time and effort required for tax compliance, enhance transparency, minimize human error, and create a clear digital footprint for all transactions,” he said.
To oversee implementation, the Ministry of Finance and GRA will establish a Steering Committee for policy oversight and a Technical Committee for daily monitoring.
Hon. Keita extended appreciation to the World Bank for supporting the project under the Public Administration Modernization for Citizen-Centric Service Delivery Program (PAMP), noting that ITAS is central to the broader reform agenda to digitize customs, treasury, procurement, and budgeting systems.
“Today marks the beginning of a new era where technology drives efficiency, transparency builds trust, and domestic resources fuel national progress,” Hon. Keita said. “Under the leadership of His Excellency President Adama Barrow, Gambia is building a digitally empowered, fiscally responsible, and development-focused future.”