By Maimuma Sey-Jawo
The Commissioner General of The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr Yankuba Darboe has made it categorically clear that GRA will not implement any action against any one based on speculation.
He was quick to say GRA will only act based on clear evident, not speculation against anyone who default to pay taxes for national development.
He vehemently stated that GRA will not compromise any speculations rather need evidence to better help the Authority to take legal action against any culprit.
The GRA Boss Made this statement while delivering his opening remarks during a five days training of GRA Staff on Revenue Laws organised under the GRA legal Department at the Senegambia Beach Hotel.
According to GRA boss “if any citizen who feels that there is a group of people, individual or company that evading tax, it is your responsibilities to report the matter to GRA administration or to the commissioner general with evidences, because we cannot just institute legal action against any one based on mere allegations without evidence.
He added that GRA is a highly respected institution and can only apply the laws based on evidence because GRA is govern by Laws and “GRA cannot do it alone patriotic Gambian need to support them by providing, adequate and accurate information report on tax defaulters which will greatly help the Authority to improve compliance and more revenue for the country.” CG Darboe emphasised.
The GRA Boss further spoke at length on the important of the on-going training on revenue laws, by GRA staff, saying that it is important for them to familiar themselves with the Revenue Laws.
He advised this first team of trainees to make the best use of the training which will go a long way in enhancing their capacity and knowledge on the revenue Laws. The GRA boss also spoke about the commitment, dedication and professionalism of his staff in term of collecting revenue for national development.
He said collecting D1.2Million per month is not a joke it is only serious-minded people can do this.
He urged the staff to take the training seriously, noting this training is like a weapon for them to understand laws that are surrounding their work.
“GRA top management is also endeavour to give staff the maximum training needed in all the sectors so that the production and output can be good, this is some of the authority started long time ago and it will be continued, because at GRA, the staff are our asset, the more we train you the better the institution,” he stated.
He continued: “we collect, we account for every butut that we collected and bank them at the Central Bank which is a very difficult job. Those that are not involved will not understand how we do it, but I wish they come on the board and see how it works, the struggle we face before we mobilize such an amount.
Mr. Essa Jallow, deputy Commissioner General GRA, Mr. Abdurrahman Bah Director of Legal Affair, and Ismaila Bah all underscored the importance attach to the training while urged staff to focus.
