By Omar Bah
The Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Yankuba Darboe, has announced that the smuggling of taxable goods into the country has been reduced by 95% since introducing the digital excise stamp.
Darboe expressed enthusiasm over this development, noting that it has created more market opportunities for local producers and importers.
In an exclusive interview with local journalists, CG Darboe explained that the digital tax stamp is applied to cigarettes, flour, soft drinks, and all excisable commodities. He acknowledged the government’s support in creating an enabling environment for the GRA to collect taxes for national development. He emphasized that the agency’s success in nearly eliminating the smuggling of excisable goods would not have been possible without this governmental support, especially given the resistance to the policy faced from certain groups. He further recognized the government’s role in driving the GRA’s reform agenda to increase tax revenues.
CG Darboe highlighted the importance of the digital tax in domestic revenue mobilization, stating that many developing countries are now advocating for self-sustaining revenue generation rather than relying on external funding. He said, “The government supports everything we are doing to ensure we can collect more for the use of the government. The GRA is implementing reforms, and with the government’s support, we are establishing a robust digital framework across various tax areas, enabling us to collect more revenue that the government can use for sustainable development.”
He also noted that The Gambia stands out for its efforts in domestic revenue mobilization. He explained that the GRA’s operational methods make it one of the best in the subregion, thanks to government support in advancing its reforms. “Without government support, many of these reforms would be challenging to implement,” he stated.
The digital stamp initiative was launched in March 2024 in The Gambia to enhance the real-time tracking and monitoring of excisable products. This initiative followed an agreement between the Gambia government and SICPA, the solution provider, aligning with GRA’s reform priorities outlined in their Corporate Strategy Plan 2020 2024. According to the GRA, the initiative aims to streamline operations by enabling swift identification and prevention of illicit trade and smuggling.
Discussing the revenue mobilization solution provided by SICPA, Finance Minister Seedy Keita stated that full implementation would grant the GRA access to accurate, real-time production data of locally produced excisable goods, distinguishing between illicit and legitimately imported goods. “This Digital Tax Stamp (DTS) will protect market shares from unfair competition posed by counterfeit and illicit products, benefiting the public through the consumption of genuine locally produced and imported excisable goods,” he remarked.
