Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Senior officials of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) have held high-level discussions with the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) in Banjul, focusing on strengthening ongoing technical assistance and charting new areas of collaboration to boost domestic revenue mobilization.
The ATAF delegation, led by Executive Secretary Ms. Mary Baine and Senior Specialist for Member Engagement and External Relations Mr. Romeo Nkoullou Ella, met with GRA Commissioner General Mr. Yankuba Darboe as part of the forum’s engagement with member administrations.
At the centre of the talks was a review of the technical assistance currently being delivered to The Gambia and an assessment of how future support can further modernise tax administration systems.
Discussions explored expanding cooperation in digital transformation, improving tax policy frameworks, and enhancing compliance systems to sustain gains in domestic revenue collection.
Commissioner General Darboe underscored the practical benefits of the partnership, describing ATAF’s programs as “practical, relevant, and tailored” to the day-to-day challenges faced by revenue officers.
He noted that the Authority’s staff have significantly benefited from capacity-building initiatives and technical support, which have translated into stronger compliance performance and improved revenue outcomes.
Over the past decade, The Gambia’s annual revenue collection has risen from about D6 billion to over D25 billion, a development attributed in part to strengthened tax administration and compliance mechanisms supported by partnerships such as the one with ATAF.
For her part, Ms. Baine reaffirmed ATAF’s commitment to The Gambia, describing the GRA as a longstanding and valued member.
She stressed that domestic resource mobilisation remains central to national development across Africa and said the partnership is designed to advance that objective in a practical and sustainable manner.
Beyond bilateral cooperation, the dialogue addressed ATAF’s broader continental agenda. This includes coordinated efforts to curb illicit financial flows (IFFs), strengthen African tax systems through digital innovation, and ensure African countries speak with a unified voice in global tax policy discussions.
A key outcome of the meeting was Commissioner General Darboe’s agreement to serve as one of ATAF’s champions.
In this role, he will help amplify Africa’s voice on tax matters and support coordinated continental positions in regional and international policy processes, including negotiations toward a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.
The engagement also sets the stage for The Gambia’s hosting of the 2026 ATAF Heads of Tax Administrations Master Class, a flagship event that will bring together Commissioners General and Directors General from across the continent to exchange experiences and deepen institutional cooperation.
The visit reaffirmed the close working relationship between ATAF and the GRA, with both sides committing to sustained collaboration aimed at strengthening tax systems and consolidating domestic revenue gains.
