The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) will host one of the biggest international conferences dubbed General Assembly of the West African Tax Administration Forum in The Gambia starting from 16 September 2019.
Maar Sarr, tax manager, Domestic Tax Department (GRA) and also the correspondent of West African Tax Administration Forum WATAF) confirmed the information to the media.
Sarr, chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), also said that during this event, a two-day high level policy dialogue will be conducted on the theme: “Setting an Agenda for Effective Revenue Mobilisation in West Africa”.
According to the chairman, The Gambia is expecting to receive twenty- eight (28) delegates from the West African countries as well as another fifteen (15) delegates from Ford Foundation, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA),the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the African Development Bank (ADB), the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD), the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He said the event is supported by Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), and the Ford Foundation and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.
Mr. Sarr further disclosed that the event will last for five days; on 16 September, there would be WATAF Finance Committee meeting and on 17 September, there will be WATAF Council meeting.
He added that on 18th and 19th September, there would be the high level policy dialogue, with 20th September being the WATAF General Assembly meeting.
According to the chairman of the LOC, the objectives of the forum are designed to help the participants to set agenda for effective Domestic Revenue Mobilisation in West Africa.
He also noted that the high level meeting will centre on the (AU Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goal and domestic Revenue Mobilisation, Wealth Inequality in West Africa.
He said GRA has already put all mechanisms in place for the successful hosting of such high level meeting in The Gambia.
Also speaking, the commissioner general of GRA, Yankuba Darboe, expressed similar sentiments and appreciation for hosting that kind of forum in The Gambia and on behalf of the government. “We are ready to host this event. We need the cooperation of all in receiving the delegations to The Gambia.”
