Compliance Risk Management Crucial for Gambia’s Customs Department: GRA Boss
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has emphasized the importance of compliance risk management in its operations, citing the need to adapt to a changing customs operating environment. In a two-week intensive training for government stakeholders on Risk Management, GRA boss Yaya Darboe highlighted the significance of effective resource allocation for the Customs and Excise Department.
The Importance of Compliance Risk Management
Darboe noted that risk management in The Gambia is based on two principles: adapting to a changing customs operational environment and adopting a compliance management risk-based approach in customs operations. He emphasized that customs authorities have a broad range of responsibilities, including:
- Revenue collection
- Trade and traveller compliance
- Protection of society
- Cultural heritage protection
- Intellectual property protection
- Environmental protection
Balancing Facilitation and Control
The GRA boss also emphasized the importance of providing an appropriate level of facilitation to trade and travel while maintaining control and ensuring regularities requirements are not overly prescriptive. He cited that the changing customs operating environment has led to a need for administrations around the world to continually adapt their methods in order to maintain effectiveness and relevance.
The Evolving Customs Environment
According to Darboe, the manner in which goods are carried and traded has changed dramatically, with the speed of transactions and sheer volume of goods traded around the globe increasing exponentially. As a result, customs authorities must adopt a compliance management risk-based approach to operations.
Training for Government Stakeholders
The training, funded by the French Development Agency with technical experts from the UK, brought together participants from various government stakeholders, including:
- Gambia Ports Authority (GPA)
- State Intelligence Service (SIS)
- Food Safety
- Government Revenue Administration (GRA)
This intensive training aims to equip government stakeholders with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage compliance risks in customs operations.