The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Seedy K. M. Keita, on Saturday, 29th November, 2025 presided over the inauguration of the new Jarra Soma Tax Office in the Lower River Region, marking a significant milestone in the decentralisation of revenue services and the Government’s efforts to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation.
The ceremony, attended by the Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr Yankuba Darboe, members of the GRA Board, traditional leaders, senior government officials, service chiefs and community representatives, highlighted the Government’s continued push to improve service delivery across all regions of the country.
Addressing the gathering, the Hon. Minister of Finance said he was deeply honoured to officiate the opening, describing the moment as both professionally and personally meaningful given his roots in the town.
“I am profoundly honored and privileged to preside over the official opening of the new edifice, Jarra Soma Tax Office. I do this in multiple capacities; first as minister of finance and economic affairs, a great great son of Soma and your host. I welcome all of you to Soma, a town where my mum hails from and legend has it that my great great grandfather Demba TAKO founded,” said Hon. Keita.
Furthermore, Hon. Keita said the commissioning of the new facility was not only the unveiling of a modern public structure but a reaffirmation of the Government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation and enhancing service delivery nationwide. Minister Keita commended the leadership of the GRA for championing reforms that have improved transparency, efficiency and accessibility within the tax administration system.
“It is an investment in efficiency, transparency, and accountability, and a clear signal that the Government of HE Adama Barrow remains committed to decentralizing key services to serve businesses, households, and communities,” he highlighted.
Moreover, the Minister underscored the critical importance of domestic revenue to national development, noting that key public investments in infrastructure, education, health and other sectors are made possible through revenues generated within the country. He cited the Nuimi–Hakalang Road, the Kiang West road network and the Kabada Roads as transformative projects fully funded by domestic resources, along with a minimum civil service salary increase of 110% since the Barrow administration took office. He gave special applaud to the GRA for its exceptional performance in recent years, pointing to its remarkable revenue growth.
“The tax revenue collected in 2022 was D11.6 billion but the performance increased to about D25 billion in 2025, a growth of more than 115% in 3 years!”
Minister Keita said the Authority had become a centre of excellence within the region, attracting study tours from several West African countries eager to learn from its reforms. He outlined a series of ongoing and upcoming initiatives aimed at modernising the tax system, including the rollout of ASYCUDA World at border posts, the development of the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS), the introduction of a weighbridge, e-tracking under the single window system, expanded digital payment options, strengthened audit and compliance mechanisms, and the introduction of digital tax stamps and fuel marking. He added that taxpayer education had been prioritised across the country and called on citizens to support the national tax effort “either by becoming a taxpayer educator or a complaint taxpayer.”
The Minister said the opening of the Jarra Soma Tax Office aligns perfectly with the Government’s reforms and will significantly improve access to taxpayer services in the region. He noted that traders, transport operators, farmers, small business owners and residents would no longer need to travel long distances to obtain tax-related services. He urged the staff who would be operating from the new facility to uphold the highest levels of professionalism and integrity, stating that “Integrity is not about doing the right thing in plain sight but to do the right when nobody is around or you will not be found out.”
Minister Keita reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting GRA with the necessary policies, digital infrastructure and operational tools required to sustain ongoing reforms. He said strengthening domestic revenue performance remains central to the Government’s fiscal consolidation efforts, its debt sustainability agenda and its ambition to build a resilient and inclusive economy under the National Development Plan (2023–2027). He encouraged the people of Jarra Soma and surrounding communities to take ownership of the facility and engage actively with the tax system, emphasising that “Paying tax is not merely a legal obligation; it is a civic duty and a meaningful contribution to the development and prosperity of our nation.”
In concluding his remarks, the Minister expressed gratitude to the Commissioner General and his staff, contractors, local authorities and all partners involved in the project. He then formally declared the building open, saying: “With great pleasure, I hereby declare the Jarra Soma Tax Office Building officially open. May it stand as a beacon of progress, accountability, and national development for generations to come.
By Mahzouba Maya Faal
Communication Officer, MoFEA