Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- Barely 24 hours after holding a day-long sensitisation workshop for Gambian Lawyers representing various Law Firms in the country on its new Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS).
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), engaged accountants from the country’s commercial banks, and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) on ITAS.
The GRA conducts sensitisation workshops for professional bodies to raise awareness of the new System and its functionalities, ensuring widespread usage and effective transition to digital tax services.
ITAS is part of the Public Administration Modernisation for Citizen-Centric Service Delivery (PAMP) Project of the World Bank for the Government of The Gambia.
“In simple terms, ITAS is a comprehensive, secure, web-based platform designed to revolutionise how we collect taxes in The Gambia. This system, once launched, will not only be an upgrade of our current system, but it is also a complete overhaul that moves our core services online,” Mr. Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General of the GRA said.
However, Mr. Darboe said for ITAS to be a resounding success, GRA needs the buy-in and active participation of all the stakeholders.
“ As accountants and the business community, you are among our most critical partners in this endeavour. You are the trusted advisors to businesses and individuals,” he said.
The GRA Commissioner General described the understanding and support of the Accountants for ITAS as instrumental in ensuring a smooth and successful transition for the entire nation.
“I encourage each one of you to actively participate in the discussions, ask questions, and share your thoughts and experiences. This Workshop is not just a passive learning session, but a collaborative platform where we can exchange ideas and strategies that will enable us to adapt effectively to these changes,” Mr. Darboe told the participants.
With the support from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), is embarking on the implementation of a new Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) to enhance the authority’s tax administration process.
The introduction of ITAS represents a transformative step in GRA’s modernisation efforts, aimed at automating tax processes and improving taxpayer services through the adoption of electronic services (e-registration, e-filing, e-payment, etc.) and other digital services.
Meanwhile, Mr. Essa Jallow, Deputy Commissioner General of the GRA highlighted the objectives of the workshop for the professional bodies, stating that it is geared towards familiarising stakeholders with the upcoming ITAS , its functionalities and benefits to users.
Mr. Jallow said it is also meant to create awareness among key stakeholders so as to increase acceptance and adoption of the new system;
”To create a platform for dialogue and feedback between GRA and stakeholders regarding the implementation of the new system as part of our communication and change management strategies; and To discuss potential challenges to the adoption and usage of the system and to encourage mutually agreed solutions,” he said.
