By Yunus S Saliu
The Network of Financial and Tax Reporters (NFTR) in partnership with the Brikama Area Council (BAC) Friday held a day forum to discuss the impact of timely payment of rates and taxes for national development.
A discussion held at the GCCI complex in Bijilo brought together members of NFTR, media practitioners, officials of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Brikama Area Council (BAC), representatives of Bankers Association among other stakeholders to discuss the theme – Impact of Timely Payment of Rates and Taxes for National Development.’
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of Commissioner General of the GRA at the opening of the daylong forum was Yahya Manneh, director of technical service at GRA who assured that GRA will continue partnering with media practitioners especially the Network of Financial and Tax Reporters.
Dilating on tax or taxation, he noted tax to be a compulsory payment to the State known to be federal, state governments, or local councils depending on the country concerned.
“But the good thing is that the collection or payment of taxes, rates or levies to the state comes with rights, obligations and accountabilities on both sides. Whilst taxpayers, citizens, and residents earning income with a particular bracket, or operating in a particular sector or using are particular services could be obliged by law to pay their fair share of tax, duties, rates or levies to government or councils on the one hand,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, he said, the payment of these taxes, duties, rates or levies give people the voice and rights to expect the provision of certain basic public goods and services like good roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, reliable and adequate water and electricity supply, health services among other things.
Adding that “accountability of government, regional authorities or Councils to the taxes, duties, rates or levies in many times determines the extent of tax compliance and ability to manage it.”
The Gambia, being a tax based economy, he said, greater part of the income government generates comes from the collection of taxes, duties, or levies to run its operations “therefore the timely payment of these taxes, duties, levies or rates determines how much or how soon government or the councils are able to run their operations including responding to the needs of society.”
Mr Manneh commended the media for their role saying GRA “believe that the proper understanding of the tax system and the revenue laws by the media practitioners is a win-win situation in our drive to improve compliance across all levels particularly those operating in the informal sector which forms greater numbers of our taxpaying population yet contribute less to the revenue base.”
As a revenue authority, he said, they use multi-pronged approaches in their taxpayer education programs through the use of print, electronic and social media handles to advertise, hold radio talk shows, tax jingles.
In addition to that, they developed and share information brochures, on the various tax types being administered by GRA which are made available to the taxpayers through their offices and website.
Also speaking at the opening Alagie Jeng, Secretary General of Bankers Association, Muhammed Sheikh, Lamin Jaiteh, Program Officer Gambia Press Union, Mr Singhateh PRO Brikama Area Council among others.
Abdoulie Nyocke, president NFTR Gambia Chapter thanked the Brikama Area Council for the support and as well other partners and the GRA for their continuous partnering with the NFTR..
