Mr. Abdoulie Nyockeh, a Senior Point Newspaper Reporter, is currently attending a weeklong media engagement and training in Kigali, Rwanda.
Nyockeh, also Chief Executive Producer of the Gambia Revenue Authority, GRA Maiden “Naamo” Magazine, left Banjul over the weekend with the head of corporate affairs at the GRA Mr. Ousman Bah.
The training focused on pertinent tax issues facing the African continent as a result of Global changes internationally as well as the impact it has on local taxation.
The Gambian delegates are invited by the African Tax Administration forum secretariat based in South Africa (ATAF) through the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) to attend the 2nd Media Engagement and Training event from the 6th to 8th March 2019, in Kigali, Rwanda. The objective of the training is to equip journalists the requisite knowledge’s on how to report on tax and tax related matters.
It also to provide learning opportunity on elementary taxation aspects, as requested in the pioneer engagement.
The training further aim to accord participants the opportunity to share their thoughts on tax v matters with ATAF tax experts to enrich their understanding of tax Matters and the integrity of their reporting.
This training also assess the current state of tax reporting in Africa media and examine impediments to reporting on taxation including ;resourcing of newspapers, training for the media , access to reliable information , the increase of citizen journalism.
Shortly, before departure, he commended the management of the Gambia Revenue through the commissioner General (GRA) for ensuring that the Gambia (particularly the media to participate in this very important event.
He explained that the second media engagement training is a follow up to the last year maiden ATAF media engagement and training which was a resounding success and a key recommendation that emerged out of the meeting was to organise regular engagement to allow a clearer understanding of salient tax issues.
He added that building on this , ATAF deem it fitting to organize a second engagement of the Media fraternity to closely undertake the journey with ATAF on the “Road back to Kampala” as ATAF celebrates its 10th Anniversary, next November.
He noted that the media remains key in the operation of tax administration with a two-tier role of tax awareness creation among citizens and secondly , the objectives to enable the media putting governments to task and ensuring that they honour their social contracts with the citizens.
He commended the management of the point for their encouragement and support, while adding that this training is a rare opportunity for him as he will learn and share ideas and though with colleague about tax and tax related matters.