07 November, 2025
GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE 40TH CLASS OF THE CUSTOMS SCHOOL
The Customs Administration celebrated, on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at CICES, the graduation of the 40th Class of the Customs School. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Bassirou SARR, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Finance and Budget.
Comprising 327 graduates, including 8 certified officers, 132 customs inspectors, and 187 customs assistants, this class is named in honor of the late Lieutenant of Customs Ibrahima Khalilou GUEYE, former dean of the Customs School, who passed away in 2021.
The event brought together the top management of the General Directorate of Customs, led by Director General Babacar MBAYE, along with several directors, division heads, and service chiefs.
Other defense and security forces were represented at the highest level, including Lieutenant General Philippe DIA, Inspector General of the Armed Forces (IGFA); Vice Admiral Oumar WADE, Chief of Naval Operations (CEMPART); Brigadier General Assane BÈYE, Commander of the Territorial Gendarmerie; Inspector General of Police Mame Seydou NDOUR, Director General of National Police; and the Director of the Prison Administration, among others.
Also present were the Governor of the Dakar Region, presidents of institutions, partner administrations, economic operators, and a large delegation representing the class patron.
During the ceremony, a posthumous Customs Medal of Honor was awarded to the late Lieutenant GUEYE. The Director General of Customs of Guinea-Bissau, Domenico Oliveira SANCA, and the Commissioner General of The Gambia Revenue Authority (represented by Gambian Customs Commissioner Alhagie MBAYE) were also decorated with the same medal.
In his address, Lt-Colonel Papa Mamadou AMAR, Head of the Recruitment and Initial Training Office, recalled the essential role of the Customs School in training and developing staff. He also highlighted the remarkable career of the class patron and urged the new officers “to embody the values of rigor, integrity, and justice — to remain united, respectful toward their superiors, yet firm and fair toward service users.”
For his part, Mr. Bassirou SARR expressed appreciation for the presence of sister delegations from The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, praising “the spirit of solidarity, brotherhood, and shared destiny that unites our nations, bound by geography, history, and a common will for development.”
He also emphasized the sensitive nature of the mission awaiting the new officers, who must serve “in a global context marked by increasingly complex trade flows and growing transnational threats — including organized crime, drug trafficking, smuggling, and illicit financial flows.”
Mr. SARR commended the Senegalese Customs Service as “a true economic shield of the State, distinguished by its adaptability, efficiency, and ongoing modernization,” and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the General Directorate of Customs in its modernization strategy.
The ceremony concluded with a march-past by the new graduates.
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) is pleased to announce the attendance of its top officials at the second International Monetary Fund (IMF) - AFRITAC WEST 2 Regional Leadership Forum, which convened leaders from Anglophone West Africa and Cape Verde.
Notably, the delegation included Commissioner General Mr. Yankuba Darboe, Deputy Commissioner General and Head of Domestic Taxes Mr. Essa Jallow, and Director of Technical Services Mr. Yahya Manneh.
The workshop was officially inaugurated by the Honorable Minister of Finance of Sierra Leone, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura. The event also saw participation from the AFRITAC West 2 Center Director, as well as IMF and EU Resident Representatives in Sierra Leone.
The forum focused on critical themes essential for strengthening tax administration and leadership, including:
- Effective decision making in tax administration
- Ethical leadership in tax administration
- Managing political interference in tax administration
- Turning vision into impact through adaptive leadership for tax transformation
- Delivering successful reforms
- Managing a portfolio of reforms
- Handling difficult stakeholders
- Leading for results through performance management
- Personal and professional development
The forum provided a vital platform for Commissioners and management teams to engage on pressing issues concerning revenue administration and reform implementation in the region.
During the event, the GRA had the opportunity to present on the theme "Navigating Political Challenges in Reform Implementation and Revenue Administration."
The presentation highlighted GRA’s practical experiences with key initiatives such as the implementation of ASYCUDA World, the introduction of Digital Tax Stamps on excisable goods, the Revenue Assurance System for Mobile Network Operators, and the Rental Tax Compliance System.
These examples illustrated the Authority’s proactive approach to overcoming challenges related to political interference while driving effective reform and modernization of revenue administration.
The event also provided the GRA’s Senior Management Team the opportunity to learn from the experiences of the other AFRITAC West 2 member administrations on their reforms implementation.