By Maimuna Sey-Jawo
Amdalai Custom Post has collected more than D96 million between January to June of 2021 as revenue, as revealed by Sulayman Sawaneh head of the Amdallai Custom Post.
He disclosed this as he delivered a speech before the GRA board and top management field visit to the provincial region over the weekend. The visit was to enable the GRA board and top management gets first-hand information in regard to the set revenue.
“We were giving a target of GMD39,120,990.00 to collect in last six months in 2021, eventually from January to June, Amadalai customs posts collected GMD96,922,550 an increase of GMD57,801,560 over the target,” he said.
According to him, Amdallai Border post is at a strategic location, being the shortest route that links the capital cities of Banjul and Dakar by land.
He said the post continue to take a leading role in the revenue performance as compared to other out stations.
“We have an average revenue target of D6.5 million per month. For this particular month of June 2021, which is 18 days today and the 12 more days before the end of the month with a set target of D6,584,546,77. I’m happy to announce that we have already collected DMD10,135,866.00 representing a surplus of M3,551,319.23 above target,” he said.
All these achievements, he said, came as a result of hard work, dedication and of course commitment by the staff who are living here as a family.
Despite the achievements, they have their challenges which among include accommodation. Secondly, he continued, the entire roofing system of the senior quarters requires replacement as well as manager office. These two buildings are experiencing serious leakage this is unlike other staff quarters across the country. Also, an Amadallai senior staff quarter has never been furnished despite numerous requests, he explained.
He pointed out that the bilateral meeting between the customs of the two countries seem to pay dividend, as they are now witnessing a slight relaxation of the restriction on the transit trade.
And among other their challenges, he said their station vehicle still remains a concern. “We are experiencing a lot of mechanical issues, thus hampering our frequent routine petrol,” he stated.
Responding to the outlined concerns, the Commissioner General GRA Mr Yankuba Darboe commended the staff of the Amadallai customs post for their performance as regarding the collected revenue registered within six months. He reminded them of the annual target tasked by government for GRA to collect.
The CG said with this trend of collection by various tax offices across the country, surely GRA will this year achieve is set revenue annual target for government.
He encouraged them to tight-up their belt so that GRA will be able to exceed its set target, while he assured them of addressing the issues raised by the Tax Manager immediately.
For her part, the Board Chair Lady Madam Lucy Faye Jagne equally thanked the staff of Amadallai customs post for their outstanding performance in revenue collection. She also advised them to maintain and protect the image of GRA and continue close collaboration among themselves.