Venue: Coco Ocean Resort and Spa, Bijlo

Date: 12th April 2025

Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly, The Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Honourable Cabinet Ministers present, Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, Senior Government Officials and Heads of Government Parastatals, Security Service Chiefs, The Chairperson and Board Members of The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) The Commissioner General, The Management and Staff of GRA, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed an honour and a privilege to be with you, once again, at this especially important occasion, denoting the seventh (7th) Annual Taxpayers’ Award Ceremony.

As I pledged during the fourth (4th) edition of this event, I remain committed to recognising and celebrating the invaluable contributions of our taxpayers.

This annual gathering serves as a powerful reminder of the crucial role you play in shaping the destiny of our nation.

The Gambia, although blessed with a vibrant population and a strategic location, has limited natural resources to adequately fund our development programmes.

The economy is fundamentally a tax-based economy and you, the taxpayers, are the bedrock of our nation’s development. Your contributions, large and small, are the lifeblood that sustains our progress.

Almost, every school built, every hospital equipped, every road constructed, or every other public service delivered is a result of the taxes you pay.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, my government’s objective remains clear; it is to utilise the revenue collected responsibly and efficiently, channelling every bit of it into public works and services that directly benefit the Gambian people. This is the essence of our Domestic Revenue Mobilisation (DRM) drive.

In these trying times, marked by donor fatigue and reduction in overseas development assistance from our partners, the focus on DRM has become even more critical. We cannot rely solely on loans and grants to develop our country; rather, we must build the requisite capacity to finance our development agenda. With this realisation, my government has successfully initiated and implemented various policies and strategies to bolster revenue generation.

I am pleased to report that our efforts are yielding significant results. Since the inception of my administration, our tax revenue has grown remarkably from seven billion, nine hundred million Dalasis (GMD 7.9 billion) in the 2017 fiscal year to twenty billion, eight hundred and thirty million Dalasis (D20.83 billion) in 2024.

This represents a substantial increase of about one hundred and sixty-three percent (163%), which is a testament to the sound economic and fiscal policies implemented through GRA.

We project tax revenue to grow again, and we have tasked the GRA to collect twenty-three billion Dalasis (D23 billion) this fiscal year.

The projection stems from the expectation that the digitalisation of the tax system and processes would yield greater dividends. These figures speak for themselves! They demonstrate the collective commitment of the Gambian people to building a self-reliant and prosperous nation.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this impressive growth in tax revenue would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the GRA.

I extend my sincere gratitude to the Commissioner General, Mr. Yankuba Darboe, for his unwavering commitment to reforming and digitalising our tax system and processes. Under his leadership, tax administration in The Gambia has been redefined.

Reassuringly, the bold reform initiatives, from introducing new digital solutions and revenue administration to combating tax evasion, have restored public trust and set a new standard for excellence.

I commend the GRA leadership, along with the dedicated Board, Management, and entire staff of GRA, for their collective roles and contributions to the success of our Domestic Revenue Mobilisation drive.

In a similar vein, I express my deepest appreciation to you, the taxpayers of The Gambia for your cooperation. Compliance, particularly by the most prominent and consistent taxpayers, is the engine that drives our economic growth.

The ongoing development projects across the country, mostly funded by your contributions, are visible proof of your investment in our shared future; therefore, to the winners of the various award categories tonight, I say: Heartfelt Congratulations!

Your compliance is not only a matter of fulfilling a legal obligation, but also a powerful demonstration of your patriotism and commitment to nation-building. You are setting a shining example for others to follow, so keep the momentum going.

I reassure the business community and our esteemed taxpayers that my government remains dedicated to creating the necessary enabling environment for businesses to thrive. We understand the challenges you face, and we will continue to work in partnership with you to address them. We are determined to minimise the burden on businesses and foster a conducive business environment for every stakeholder in the economy.

Whenever the need arises, the Government will intervene to ease any unnecessary burden, either on businesses or in the business environment. We believe that a thriving private sector is essential for sustainable economic growth and job creation.

I thank you all for your continued support and dedication to The Gambia. Let nothing slow down our progress. Together, we can build a much brighter future for all Gambians.

Thank you for your kind attention.