The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) and The Gambia Police Force (GPA) on Tuesday 26th January, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a Ceremony held Police Inspector General Office in Police Headquarter, Banjul.
The signing ceremony was attended by top officials of both institutions. The signed MoU is meant to foster close working relationship between the two institutions.
In his remarks, the Inspector General of Police Adviser, Seyaka Sonko welcomed the moved and said the MoU was something that they have been working on, and it was agreed after consultation and validation to sign the document which will help bring better working relationship.
According to him the MoU gears toward cementing the already working relationship between the two institutions and therefore urged both parties to implement the MOU as expected.
For his part, the Deputy Commissioner General at GRA, Essa Jallow, alluded to other speakers comment and described the MoU as first of its kind in the history of GRA and GPF. He said in the past they have been doing a lot of thing together, but with this MoU it provides a framework for cooperation and support between them.
He expressed hope that other institutions are going to learn from them because the government is ‘only one government.’
“I’m hoping that this agreement will provide impetus for us to work closely in a very amicable manner so that we will be able to execute our mandate through mutual support and assistance,” DCG Jallow said.
Yankuba Darboe, the Commissioner General of The Gambia Revenue Authority stressed that the GPF and GRA are sister institutions and the MoU will provide cooperation between GRA and GPF by creating a join control and investigation team.
He added that it will also established GRA, GPF cooperation committee that comprises officers of both institutions, as the MoU also identified the role of each institution and require each party on the request of the order to provide the information that will further be objective of the MoU.
He added further that the MoU will provide future collaboration in term of capacity building with understanding and respect of the mandate of both institutions
The Commissioner General with hope expressed that the MoU will strengthen the already existing relation between GRA and GPF, as both institutions are established by an act of parliament and they all have role to play in helping each other by making sure that the job is done effectively. While noted that it is from the revenue that GRA is collecting the Police are paid salaries but they cannot collect revenue without security in the country and the security are the police.
“In order to collect revenue, there must be peace in the country so that revenue can mobilise for Government to perform its function effectively,” GRA Boss emphasised.
For his part the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mamour Jobe, described the MoU as a moment of joy particularly for the young one coming, their leadership will continue the move and see the benefit.
He thanked GRA for accepting to partner with them while assuring them of smooth working relationship.
He concluded that there is no institutions that can do it alone, as the country belong to all of us. Thus, is the duty of every Gambian to continue making peace in the country because if there is no peace no development or business that can take place.
He therefore thanked GRA for the partnership and assured his institution’s support at all time.