Following the wide spread of misconception about the roles and mandates of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) in the execution of its function, the (GRA) boss Mr. Yankuba Darboe gave a comprehensive speech on roles and responsibilities of GRA as Revenue Authority in nation building.
He pointed out that one of the GRA most important function is to assess,charge, levy and collect revenue due to go government in accordance with section 14(1) (a). He made this statement in an exclusive interview with Peter Gomez recently in one of the radio station talk show programs.
GRA boss further made it categorically clear that the withdrawal and expenditure of the monies generated by GRA from the Taxpayers monies is entirely based on collective Government decision on where the monies will be spent. While noted, of course, that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs as their line Ministry is at the core –centre “but the decision on how the money will be spent is the responsibility of government collective effort,” GRA boss said.
According to Mr. Darboe, GRA role is revenue collection with commitment and determination of staff and management they do it with seriousness “because figures quoting on average of colleting over one billion dalasi on monthly is not a child play” he said.
The GRA boss was quick to attributes this to only serous minded people that could be able to collect such a huge amount of money on a monthly basis.
When asked which sector of the Economic? GRA boss confirmed that it is a collective government effort of course the ministry of finance and economic affair is at the core centre but how the money is spend is a collective government responsibility . He said Government has to decide the areas which money needs to be spent.
He admitted that the GRA Management remains committed to it mandates of collecting much need revenue for the state and enforcing the revenue Laws.
He however dilated on the importance of tax payment while expressing total appreciation with the level of increase of tax compliance from the public Enterprise companies which has boost the revenue collection during this difficult period of the deadly corona virus pandemic.