By Fatou Dahaba
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) on Tuesday intensified its countrywide sensitization campaign on the new Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS), convening manufacturers and other business stakeholders at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Hall for a targeted workshop.
The session forms part of a broader tax modernization drive backed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the World Bank, aimed at transitioning The Gambia to a fully digital tax platform that promises greater efficiency, transparency, and convenience for taxpayers.
ITAS Project Manager Samba Sallah told participants that the new system will fundamentally transform tax administration through comprehensive automation and online services. “The platform will introduce electronic registration, e-filing, e-payment and other digital services designed to significantly reduce the time and cost of compliance for taxpayers,” he said.
Sallah emphasized that the development of ITAS has been consultative from the outset. “We are engaging taxpayers at this early stage so their input can help shape a platform that is both efficient for administrators and user-friendly,” he added. Once fully operational, taxpayers will be able to handle most transactions remotely without visiting GRA offices, marking a major shift from traditional manual processes.
Commissioner-General of the GRA, Yankuba Darboe, highlighted the critical role of the business community, particularly manufacturers, in domestic revenue generation. He described them as essential partners in the success of the tax reform.
“We deliberately chose stakeholder consultations rather than a top-down introduction of the system,” Darboe stated. “This approach ensures smoother adoption and deeper understanding when the platform goes live.”
The Commissioner-General noted that ITAS represents a move towards a more modern, digital and transparent tax system that will strengthen efficiency, minimize delays, and boost overall compliance.
Participants at the workshop were urged to actively engage, ask questions, and provide feedback, with GRA officials stressing that such contributions are crucial for refining the system ahead of full rollout.
The sensitization drive will continue across various sectors in the coming weeks as the authority works to ensure a seamless transition to the new framework.
Once implemented, ITAS is expected to reshape tax administration in The Gambia by improving revenue mobilization, reducing administrative bottlenecks, and easing the compliance burden on businesses and individuals alike. The GRA views the system as a cornerstone of its modernization agenda, aligning the country’s tax infrastructure with international best practices in digital governance.
