Gambia Revenue Authority Surpasses First-Quarter Target, Sets Monthly Record

By Makutu Manneh

The Gambia Revenue Authority said it collected 7.7 billion dalasis in the first three months of 2026, exceeding its target and posting the highest monthly revenue intake in the country’s history.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, the commissioner general, Yankuba Darboe, said the total surpassed the authority’s quarterly target of 7.4 billion dalasis by 247 million, an average of roughly 2.5 billion dalasis per month.

The performance, he said, reflects “consistency and resilience” in the country’s revenue collection systems. Compared with the same period in 2025, the first-quarter results represent a 14 percent increase over the target, with an absolute gain of 971 million dalasis.

The authority has been mandated by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs to raise more than 28 billion dalasis in 2026. Mr. Darboe said the first-quarter total accounts for about 27 percent of that goal, putting the agency on pace to meet or potentially exceed its annual target.

“The authority has been tasked by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs to mobilize over 28 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. I am pleased to inform you that our first quarter performance already represents 27 percent of the annual target, placing us firmly on track to meet and potentially exceed our revenue target,” he stated.

That outlook, he cautioned, depends on global economic conditions.

“We have all seen what is happening in the world today,” he said. “Life is not as it used to be, so we are saying, all things being equal, we should be able to get the target set for us and get more than that.”

The gains were driven by growth across key revenue streams, including customs, excise, and domestic taxes, all of which recorded year-on-year increases.

March proved particularly strong. The authority collected more than 3.1 billion dalasis during the month, surpassing its 3 billion dalasi target by about 5 percent and marking a 22 percent increase from March 2025. Officials said it was the highest monthly revenue collection ever recorded in The Gambia.

Mr. Darboe attributed the results to a series of reforms, stronger compliance and enforcement measures, and the continued digitalization of tax administration.

The Gambia Revenue Authority is responsible for assessing and collecting domestic taxes, customs duties, and other government revenues.