By Maimuna Sey-Jawo
The Staff of Gambia Revenue Authority are currently undergoing five days intensive training on reform and modernization at the Senegambia Beach Hotel, Kololi.
The training was organized by GRA, Funded by GIZ through WCO’s Capacity building Directorate.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, the Commissioner General of GRA Yankuba Darboe, said the follow up Project Support to Gambia Revenue Authority was intended to further strengthen GRA’s Reforms and Modernization efforts and will help develop the Authority’s Business Continuity Plan Document.
He said GRA in collaboration with GIZ and WCO has undertaken many reforms and modernization projects to implement the priority trade facilitation measures of the WTO-TFA since 2019.
CG Darboe stated that “these projects include but not limited to Time Release Study (TRS) and Risk Management undertaken to bring about improved efficiency in the Authority’s clearance processes and procedures and to make the Gambia an attractive place for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).”
“The Authority through its Corporate Strategic Plan 2020-2024, has taken the implementation of trade facilitation measures as one of its strategic priority objectives, which this ongoing training another clear testimony to the continued collaboration that exit between GRA and its national and international partners to achieve this strategic objective,” he added.
He assured that GRA board and management are fully committed to providing the necessary resource to undertake the necessary reforms that will enhance trade facilitation while at the same time optimizing control.
For his part, Benard Ebinden, Regional Development Manager West and Central Africa, (World Customs Organization) thanked GRA for partnering with them and assured them of their continuous support.
Alieu Bittaye, Director of Risk Management at GRA and Lucy Fye Jagne thanked GIZ through WCO for the project which started way back in 2018