By Sulayman Waan
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) in collaboration with Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Wednesday 25th September trained Gambia Women Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) on tax issues.
This activity is part of GRA stakeholders’ engagement strategy to educate and sensitize the business community, taxpayers and the general public on tax issues. It’s the first tax education forum GRA had with GWCC.
This seminar means for GRA’s officials share knowledge with business women on how the state’s revenue institution administer the various taxes base on Gambia’s revenue laws. It also facilitates women tax compliance and reduces both compliance and tax administration costs.
The activity is funded by UNDP through the ministry of Finance and Economy Affairs under the project: “Support to strengthening capacities of national institutions responsible for economic management evidence- based policy, planning and budgeting to achieve inclusive growth and poverty reduction.
In his opening statement, Eassa Jallow, deputy commission general of GRA said GCCI can play a pivotal role in the form of advocacy to influence the compliance behaviour of the business community
“This forum will go a long way to boosting GRA’s revenue mobilization,” he said.
“We hope this seminar would strengthen our (GRA, GYCC and WCC) collaboration to support the implementation of government’s tax reform initiative aimed at improving revenue collection for national development,” Jallow noted.
However, he added that this seminar would bring understanding and cooperation between these related institutions, which he means would go a long way in promoting voluntary tax compliance.
Deputy commission Jallow challenged GYCC to gather information of its members’ tax contribution to ensure they used it as an advocacy tool to influence public policy in support of private sector development.
He commended UNDP and Gambia Government through the finance ministry for the support in strengthening tax payers training programme.
Beatrice Mboge, President of WCC revealed that lack of access to finance as well as travelling documents such as passport are factors affecting the progress of women entrepreneurs in the country.
However, Madam Mboge called on women entrepreneurs to register their businesses, adding that there are many opportunities in the trade industry but only registered business women can benefit from it.
“If you don’t register your businesses, you cannot take loans from banks,” she added.
According to her, market is a challenge for the women entrepreneurs but her institution is working with partners to make sure this challenge become a history.
She added that WCC are as well engage in training Gambian women to understand business and tax related issues.
Holimatou Gaye, GYCC business development officer described the forum as essential in enabling business women to get the required information about tax issues.
According to her, GYCC is working to expectation to ensure all challenges of business women is wipe out so that development is realize in the trade industry.