23 July, 2026
BANJUL HOSTS AFRICA’S TAX LEADERS AS ATAF COMMISSIONERS GENERAL MASTER CLASS FOR 2026 OPENS
Banjul became the hub of tax leadership in Africa today as the Commissioners General Master Class, hosted by The Gambia Revenue Authority in partnership with the African Tax Administration Forum, officially opened.
Heads of revenue authorities from across the continent converged in the capital to deliberate on three core themes: leadership, innovation and domestic resource mobilization.
The opening ceremony was graced by His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, Vice President of The Republic of The Gambia, Hon. Seedy K.M. Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Chairman of ATAF, the Executive Secretary of ATAF and the Commissioner General of The Gambia Revenue Authority.
In his remarks, Hon. Seedy K.M. Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs emphasized that Africa’s development must be funded from within. He said this reality places “a huge responsibility on us, the leaders of revenue administrations to be innovative, ethical and strategic.” The Minister urged tax leaders to leverage technology, strengthen taxpayer trust and deepen regional cooperation. He reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to reforms that will make the tax system fairer, more efficient and more responsive to the needs of our people and businesses.
His Excellency Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow framed tax administration beyond revenue collection. “Tax administration is not merely about collecting revenue. It is about upholding the social contract between the state and its citizens,” he stated. The Vice President called for leadership that is calm in crisis, clear in vision and committed to service and urged public institutions to embrace data, planning and good governance to deliver results that transform lives. He encouraged delegates to use the Master Class to learn from one another and return home with practical solutions for Africa.
The Chairman of ATAF noted that the Master Class comes at a critical time for our continent, as demands on revenue authorities continue to grow. He expressed pride in what ATAF and its members have achieved, but stressed that more must be done. “We must lead with courage, invest in our people and embrace digitalization to close tax gaps and build resilient economies,” he said. He called on delegates to let Banjul be the place where the continent renews their commitment to excellence in tax administration.
The Executive Secretary of ATAF described the CGs’ Master Class as a platform designed to equip leaders with the tools to navigate complexity. She highlighted Africa’s shared challenges — informality, digitalization and the need to expand the tax base but also the shared solutions available through collaboration. “ATAF remains committed to supporting you with peer learning, technical support and a platform to shape the future of taxation on our continent,” she affirmed.
Hosting the event, Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority, Mr. Yankuba Darboe expressed honor that The Gambia is convening this prestigious gathering. “At GRA, we believe leadership is about service,” he said. He encouraged participants to be open, to challenge each other and to leave Banjul with practical strategies to improve compliance, enhance efficiency and build institutions that citizens can trust.