With the new system, GRA will be collecting compound taxes and municipalities will now be requesting for funds from GRA as and when the need arises. This will include their daily operational costs and staff salaries. “I am urging my staff as well as residents of Banjul to try and cope with this new situation as well as change their attitude and work hard towards the achievement of the targeted goals and objectives of the nation” Abdoulie Bah, Lord Mayor of The Banjul City Council was quoted as saying to The Foroyaa Newspaper recently.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the new system has already started creating operational difficulties for municipality staff – for instance, KMC had no Cash-Power last week and therefore no electricity for hours which was said to have halted work in their offices. Garbage collectors could not do their job as there was no gas money to buy fuel. “There is trash all over Serekunda Market, and other places in KMC, its been days now no garbage collectors came over” complained a source.
- Advertisement -
An impending mass retrenchment is also in the offing as the fate of the compound tax collectors hang in the balance, with many potentially being pushed into retirement. We are still anticipating confirmation by The Ministry of Local Government who is communicating with the municipalities through The Office of The President.
