Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), highlighted the transformative power of third-party data in modern tax administration during a high-level panel at the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) Annual General Meeting on Wednesday in Algiers, Algeria.
Speaking under the theme “Constraints to Data Sharing,” Darboe positioned data as the “lifeblood” of compliance risk management and the “new gold” for revenue authorities. He argued that integrating third-party sources grants a 360-degree view of taxpayer behavior, enabling the GRA to tackle non-compliance, narrow the tax gap, and build a fairer system.
Drawing from The Gambia’s digitalization journey, Darboe highlighted successes in leveraging external data to boost collections while candidly addressing hurdles, chief among them data privacy concerns. “We must strike a balance,” he urged, advocating for minimized sharing limited strictly to revenue-relevant information.
To achieve this, the GRA has forged Memoranda of Understanding with government agencies and stakeholders. The recently enacted Data Privacy and Protection Act now provides a robust legal backbone, safeguarding citizens’ rights while facilitating secure data exchange.
Darboe’s insights resonated with delegates from across the continent, who were grappling with similar challenges. As African nations push for domestic resource mobilization, his call for pragmatic, privacy-conscious data strategies offers a blueprint for turning information into sustainable revenue without compromising trust.
The ATAF meeting continues throughout the week, with participants exploring innovative solutions to enhance tax systems across the continent.
