All the foreign musicians who performed in The Gambia during the Christmas and New Year Holidays did not pay any income taxes, despite earning millions of Dalasis.

“They were supposed to pay D50, 000 each to the Gambia Revenue Authority, but they all left without paying,” disclosed a senior tax manager at the GRA head office in Banjul.

The musicians who performed in the country during the Holidays include Youssou Ndour, Wally Seck, Mavado, Chronixx, Sidiki Diabate, Fantan Mojah and Assane Ndiaye.

According to the senior tax manager, GRA is planning to explore new measures to improve The Gambia's tax intake and stem the avoidance of billions of dalasis of tax.

“It’s now more than three years; these foreign musicians are coming and leaving without paying any incomes taxes.”

He further disclosed that majority of event organisers, popularly known as promoters, are also exploiting the loopholes in the country’s tax system to avoid paying sales tax after their events.

“They are supposed to pay 10% of their revenue from ticket sales to GRA. But this would soon be firmly reinforced as we develop and digitize our tax system.”