GRA Showcases Visionary Leadership and Digital Transformation at IMF Regional Forum

By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter

The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has once again affirmed its growing stature as a regional pacesetter in modern revenue administration, as its top leadership participated in the Second IMF–AFRITAC West 2 Regional Leadership Forum, bringing together Commissioners General and senior tax administrators from Anglophone West Africa and Cape Verde.
At the heart of GRA’s strong presence at the high-level forum was the visionary leadership of Commissioner General, Mr. Yankuba Darboe, whose transformative agenda continues to reposition the Authority as a modern, efficient, and fully digitalized revenue institution. He was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner General and Head of Domestic Taxes, Mr. Essa Jallow, and the Director of Technical Services, Mr. Yahya Manneh—a senior management team widely credited for driving institutional reforms and embedding innovation across the Authority.

The forum, officially opened by Sierra Leone’s Honourable Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, also attracted senior representatives from the IMF, the European Union, and the AFRITAC West 2 Centre, underscoring the strategic importance of the gathering in shaping the future of tax administration in the region.
Discussions focused on critical leadership and reform themes, including ethical and adaptive leadership, effective decision-making, managing political interference, performance management, and translating bold vision into measurable impact. These themes resonate strongly with the reform trajectory championed by Commissioner General Darboe and his management team, who have consistently prioritized results-driven leadership and institutional modernization.
A major highlight of the forum was GRA’s presentation on “Navigating Political Challenges in Reform Implementation and Revenue Administration.” The Authority showcased practical, homegrown solutions that reflect its forward-looking strategy, including the successful implementation of ASYCUDA World, the rollout of Digital Tax Stamps on excisable goods, the Revenue Assurance System for Mobile Network Operators, and the Rental Tax Compliance System. These initiatives stand as clear evidence of GRA’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance transparency, efficiency, and domestic revenue mobilization.
Observers at the forum noted that GRA’s experiences demonstrated how strong leadership, backed by a cohesive senior management team, can overcome political and operational challenges while sustaining reform momentum. The Authority’s journey toward becoming a fully digital revenue institution was widely acknowledged as a model for peer administrations in the AFRITAC West 2 region.
Beyond sharing its own success story, GRA’s delegation also engaged with counterparts to learn from regional best practices, further strengthening the Authority’s reform agenda under the steady guidance of Commissioner General Darboe.
As The Gambia accelerates its national development ambitions, the performance of the GRA under its current leadership continues to inspire confidence. Through visionary direction, strategic innovation, and an unwavering commitment to modernization, the GRA is not only uplifting its institutional capacity but also reinforcing The Gambia’s position as a leader in revenue administration across West Africa.