By: Nyima Sillah
The Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Yankuba Darboe, has reported that smuggling of taxable goods into the country has been slashed by 95% following the introduction of digital excise stamp.
The Gambia’s revenue mobilization boss enthused that this development has created more market space for local producers and importers.
In an exclusive interview with The Voice, CG Darboe explained that digital tax stamp is being imposed on cigarettes, flour, soft drinks and all excisable commodities.
He acknowledged the support of the government in creating an enabling environment for the country’s main revenue mobilization agency to collect tax for national development. The GRA boss went on to point out that the agency would not have succeeded in virtually eliminating smuggling of excisable commodities without the support of the government because, according to him, the policy has been met with resistance from some quarters. He further acknowledged government’s support in driving the GRA’s reform agenda as reforms would increase the tax money.
CG Darboe emphasized the significance of digital tax in domestic revenue mobilization, saying in this day and age, most of the developing countries are advocating domestic revenue generation rather than depending on external revenue sources.
“Whatever we are doing, the government is helping us to make sure that we can collect more for the use of the government. GRA comes with reforms, and the government supports us so that at the end of the day, there is a strong digital structure on different tax lines, and we will be able to collect more revenue that the government can use to sustain whatever development desire they have,” the GRA boss asserted.
He also asserted that The Gambia is standing high when it comes to domestic revenue mobilization, explaining that GRA’s modus operandi makes it one of the best in the sub-region as they enjoy the support of the government in pushing forward their reforms.
“If we don’t have the support of the government, some of these reforms will be hard,” he opined.
