14 May, 2026
The New GRA Board Embarks on Tour of Stations
In recognition of its oversight function, the new GRA Board, accompanied by the Commissioner General and Management, embarked on a tour of the Authority’s stations within the Greater Banjul Area and the Kombos.
The tour provided the Board with a firsthand opportunity to interact with staff at their various stations and observe their working conditions. It also enabled the Board to better understand the men and women behind the continued successes registered by the Authority, as well as the daily challenges they face in the execution of their duties.
Board Chairman, Mr. Dawda Ndure, was accompanied by the Vice Chairman, Mr. Alfusainey Camara; Board Member, Mr. Abdoulie Batchilly; Commissioner General, Mr. Yankuba Darboe; Deputy Commissioner General and Head of Domestic Taxes, Mr. Essa Jallow; Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Alhaji K. Mbye; and members of GRA Top and Senior Management.
The delegation was received by the Managers of the Tallinding and Serekunda Tax Offices, Mr. Alhaji Kabiro Barrow and Mr. Abdoulie Baldeh, respectively. Both offices are housed under the same roof along the busy Mamadi Maniang Highway. The Managers expressed appreciation for receiving the high-powered delegation. While noting their continued strong performance in revenue collection, they highlighted challenges such as inconsistent power supply, inadequate furniture, and insufficient computers. The Board and Management assured them that these concerns would be looked into.
Both the Board Chairman and the Commissioner General encouraged the staff to redouble their efforts, work as a team, and uphold ethics and integrity, which remain key among the Authority’s core values.
The tour party then proceeded to the Wellingara Tax Office, where they were received by the Tax Manager, Mr. Lamin Jassey. He reported that the office continues to perform well in revenue collection but requires additional support in the areas of computers and furniture. The Commissioner General thanked the head of the Police at Wellingara Station, ASP Yusupha Badjie, for attending the meeting and encouraged both institutions to maintain the excellent collaboration that exists on the ground.
In his remarks, the Deputy Commissioner General and Head of Domestic Taxes described Mr. Jassey as a seasoned officer with a strong track record in his area of work. Mr. Jassey and his team were encouraged to maintain their good performance and high ethical standards.
At the Brusubi Tax Office, the Board Chairman, Commissioner General, and Deputy Commissioner General commended the staff for their excellent performance. As was the case at earlier stations, Senior Tax Officer Mr. George Jarjue appealed for more support to enhance staff performance and productivity.
The next stations visited on the first day of the tour were the Tanji Customs Post and Mandinary Customs Post. It was reported that the Tanji Post was established as a preventive station to monitor activities along the Atlantic seafront and help combat smuggling, among other responsibilities. The site is also expected to host the future GRA Training Academy, with the Authority currently seeking funding to construct the facility as part of its modernization drive and commitment to strengthening in-house professional training for staff.
Staff at the Tanji station highlighted the need for mobility to facilitate their work. Commissioner General Darboe assured them that the matter would be addressed once funds become available.
At the Mandinary Customs Post, it was reported that operations are carried out in close collaboration with Gam Petroleum and Gambian Petroleum Services, which provide storage facilities for the country’s petroleum products. The delegation also paid courtesy calls on the management of both facilities, who expressed appreciation for the visit.
The Board and Management used the occasion to commend Mr. Baba Fofana and his team for their tremendous performance, particularly in March 2026, when the post collected five hundred and ninety-three million dalasis (D593,000,000).
On the second day, the tour party visited Airport Customs, Brikama Tax Office, and Jiboroh Customs Post. At Airport Customs, the Manager, Ms. Awa Mendy Samba, thanked the Board and Management for responding to some of their needs, including the provision of a borehole to address water challenges.
The Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Alhaji K. Mbye, also commended the team for their unprecedented collection of over D19 million in April, despite the current crisis in the Gulf. The Board Chairman and the Commissioner General encouraged the staff to continue their good work and to treat travellers with maximum respect, noting that this contributes to strengthening the country’s good image. They were also advised to maintain the spirit of teamwork.
In Brikama, the delegation was received by the Tax Manager, Mr. Mamudu Maane, and his team. He highlighted the good work being done by the office and reported that their official vehicle is currently grounded, which poses a challenge to their operations. The Commissioner General assured the team that the issue would be addressed in due course, noting that mobility is key to strengthening enforcement.
The Board Chairman also encouraged the staff to broaden their scope in order to enrol more taxpayers and increase collections, particularly around growth centres.
In recognition of staff capacity building, the Commissioner General congratulated Dr. Abou Khan, Senior Tax Officer, on successfully graduating with a PhD in Public Administration. The CG encouraged staff to emulate Dr. Khan, noting that professional growth enhances the quality of service rendered by staff.
The tour team was also invited to visit the ongoing construction of the new Tax Office, which is showing remarkable progress.
The day’s event ended at Jiboroh Customs Post, where the Manager, Mr. Seedy M.B. Kinteh, welcomed the delegation. He reported that the post increased its revenue from D745,170 for the period January to June 2024 to D3,370,772 from July to December 2024, which was described as highly commendable.
He further reported that the post’s solar backup system requires maintenance or replacement, while the staff quarters need renovation. He also highlighted the need for motorcycles to ease mobility.
The Board Chairman commended the staff for their performance, while the Commissioner of Customs encouraged them to enhance cross-border collaboration and strengthen their relationship with sister security forces.
The Head of Senegalese Customs at Selety, Mr. Abdou Wahab Joof, lauded the excellent relationship between the two sides, noting that it demonstrates the historical ties shared as neighbours.
Speaking on behalf of the sister security services, Mr. Njaga O. Jatta of DLEAG stated that they share a strong bond and conduct joint patrols, which have been yielding positive results. He, however, appealed for security personnel at the border post to be provided with arms to make their work more effective.
In response, Commissioner General Darboe promised to take up the request with the relevant authorities in Banjul.