GRA Commissioner General Yankuba Darboe Calls for Stronger Leadership as Africa Advances Tax Reforms By Isatou Jawara

The Gambia — The Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Yankuba Darboe, has called on African tax administrators to demonstrate bold leadership, embrace innovation and strengthen collaboration as the continent intensifies efforts to reform tax systems and boost domestic resource mobilisation.

Darboe made the call at the opening of the Commissioners General Master Class 2026 in Banjul, a high-level forum organised by the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) in partnership with the Gambia Revenue Authority.

The event brought together Commissioners General and heads of revenue authorities from across Africa to deliberate on the future of tax administration, with discussions centred on leadership, digital transformation, institutional reform and sustainable domestic revenue generation.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Vice President of The Gambia, His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow; the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Seedy K.M. Keita; the ATAF Chairman; the ATAF Executive Secretary; and senior government officials and tax administrators from across the continent.

Addressing participants, Minister Keita underscored the need for African nations to increasingly finance their development through internally generated revenue, saying this places a significant responsibility on tax administrators to be innovative, ethical and strategic.

He urged revenue authorities to harness technology, strengthen taxpayer confidence and deepen regional cooperation, while reaffirming The Gambia’s commitment to reforms aimed at creating a fair, efficient and citizen-focused tax system.

Vice President Jallow described tax administration as a cornerstone of the relationship between governments and citizens, stressing that its role extends far 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 said.

The Vice President called for visionary and resilient leadership capable of navigating uncertainty while promoting transparency, data-driven decision-making and good governance to improve public service delivery.

In his address, Commissioner General Darboe described the Master Class as an invaluable platform for peer learning and institutional transformation, expressing appreciation to ATAF for selecting The Gambia to host the 2026 edition.

“At GRA, we believe leadership is about service,” he said, encouraging participants to engage candidly, challenge existing ideas and exchange practical experiences that can strengthen tax administration across Africa.

He urged delegates to leave Banjul equipped with practical strategies that would improve taxpayer compliance, enhance institutional efficiency and reinforce public confidence in revenue authorities.

Reflecting on his own leadership journey, Darboe revealed that he has participated in several previous editions of the Commissioners General Master Class, often accompanied by his Deputy Commissioner General, describing the programme as a catalyst for many of the reforms implemented at the Gambia Revenue Authority.

According to him, each edition has provided fresh perspectives and practical lessons drawn from colleagues facing challenges similar to those confronting The Gambia.

“Many of the digital solutions, compliance strategies and institutional reforms we have implemented over the years were inspired by experiences shared by colleagues from across the continent,” Darboe noted.

He, however, cautioned that successful tax reform is not driven by technology alone.

Describing taxation as one of the most sensitive areas of public policy, Darboe observed that reforms aimed at improving compliance, closing loopholes and increasing transparency often encounter resistance.

“Any reform that seeks to change behaviour, improve compliance, close loopholes or increase transparency will inevitably encounter resistance,” he said.

He maintained that such resistance should not discourage reformers, emphasising that lasting institutional transformation demands resilience, consistency and unwavering commitment.

Darboe also identified political support as one of the most critical ingredients for successful reform implementation.

He explained that before embarking on major digital transformation or policy reforms, he ensures that the Minister of Finance, the President and Cabinet fully understand both the objectives and expected benefits of the proposed initiatives.

According to him, securing political buy-in creates the enabling environment needed to implement reforms effectively and withstand opposition that often accompanies institutional change.

He expressed gratitude to the Government of The Gambia for its sustained support of the GRA’s reform agenda.

The ATAF Chairman, in his remarks, said the Master Class comes at a critical time when African revenue authorities face increasing pressure to mobilise domestic resources to finance development.

He urged tax administrators to lead with courage, invest in human capital and accelerate digitalisation to close tax gaps and build more resilient economies.

Similarly, the ATAF Executive Secretary described the Master Class as a strategic platform designed to equip Commissioners General with the leadership skills and technical knowledge required to navigate the complexities of modern tax administration.

She identified informality, digitalisation and expanding the tax base as common challenges confronting African countries, stressing that collaboration among revenue authorities offers practical pathways to shared solutions.

She reaffirmed ATAF’s commitment to supporting African tax administrations through peer learning, technical assistance and knowledge-sharing platforms that strengthen institutional capacity across the continent.

The Commissioners General Master Class is taking place at a time when many African governments are placing greater emphasis on domestic resource mobilisation as a means of financing national development priorities and reducing dependence on external funding.

For the Gambia Revenue Authority, hosting the gathering provides an opportunity to showcase its reform journey while learning from the experiences of fellow African tax administrations.

As deliberations continue in Banjul, the central themes remain clear: strengthening leadership, embracing innovation, improving compliance and building tax institutions that are efficient, transparent and trusted by citizens.

Darboe’s message resonated throughout the opening session—that Africa’s tax reform agenda will succeed only through strong leadership, sustained political commitment, continuous learning and closer collaboration among revenue authorities.

The message from Banjul is unequivocal: Africa’s tax administrations must continue to learn from one another, embrace innovation and pursue reforms that strengthen domestic resource mobilisation while building institutions that inspire public trust and drive sustainable development.