By Binta Jaiteh
Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has described the year 2021 as very challenging for the GRA in terms of revenue collection.
CG Darboe revealed this during the consideration stage of GRA’s 2021 Annual Activity Report and Financial Statement to Parliament’s Committee on Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC).“This situation was precipitated by the advent of COVID-19 pandemic which turns out to be one of the most disruptive health emergencies to have ever hit the world. Its negative impact is beyond health as it touches on all facets of human development across countries, regions, and the world with The Gambia, not an exception,’’ Darboe explained.He said on the revenue collection mandate, the GRA set a revenue performance target of GMD12,793,761,035 in 2021 which anticipated a nominal growth of 8.35 per cent or D985,835,975 over the 2020 actual revenue collection of GMD11,807,925,060.95.
“This anticipated growth in revenue was premised on improved efficiency in revenue administration; the lifting of travel restrictions and opening of land borders and airspace; resumption of the tourism and hospitality industry; and increase in demand for goods and services after COVID-19 related lock-downs in 2020” CG noted.
He continued to state that despite the challenges brought about by COVID-19 in 2021, the Authority was able to meet its revenue target and thus achieved an important milestone. According to him, the authority collected total revenue of GMD12, 741,786,836.18 in 2021 which translated into 100 per cent of its annual target.
Compared to the total revenue collected in the corresponding period in 2020 of GMD11, 807,925,060.95, the total revenue collected in 2021 represented a nominal growth of GMDD933, 861,775.23 or 8 per cent.“The attainment of the 2021 revenue target by GRA equals the 9th time in ten years from 2012 to 2021.
Disaggregated by departments, the Customs and Excise Department’s total revenue collection for the year 2021 totaled GMD7, 093,234,506.07” he noted.According to him, this total collection for CED represented a 94 per cent performance rate against the Department’s annual revenue target of GMD7, 538,528,525.However, Darboe went on to explain that the performances of international trade receipts in 2021 were negatively affected by many factors.
These included the significant increase in freight charges globally (more than 200%), high international commodity prices, increased ship handling charges, COVID-19 pandemic, high duty waivers (D2.062 billion), fuel subsidies (in excess of D325 million), and the negative impact of uncertainties and speculations around the Presidential Elections.
“All these factors led to more than 35% drop in import volumes of essential commodities, and 5% in their corresponding values on which import tariffs are applied but despite the shortfall against the revenue target of the year in 2021, the departments performance relative represented a nominal growth of 5 per cent or D347,119,990.06 compared to 2020.
’’He added that, similarly, the Domestic Taxes Department (DTD) total revenue collection for 2021 was GMD5, 648,543,330.11, which represented D393, 310,820.53 or 7 per cent excess above the annual target.This, he said, represented a nominal growth of 12 per cent or D586, 741,785.17 when compared to the 2020 annual collection of D5, 061,801,544.94.
He concluded by saying: “as the revenue collecting body of government, you can be rest assured that GRA Management and Staff are determined to continue facilitating the payment of taxes due to government in the most conducive environment and at minimal compliance cost on taxpayers. In doing so, we will continue to solicit the support of the government and the National Assembly Members in making adequate resources available and in enacting or amending laws that can help the GRA deliver on its mandate.
’’The committee adopted the 2021 activity report and financial report of GRA with amendments.
