The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) have dismissed allegations circulating on social media regarding the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) project.

A report by popular online platform What’s On Gambia alleged corruption in the awarding of a $7.2 million contract to the Tunisian Arabsoft–TMI Consortium for the implementation of the World Bank–funded project.

The report claimed that Arabsoft initially submitted a bid of $6.5 million, but that the figure shared publicly was $7.2 million, alleging that the $700,000 difference — more than D50 million — was paid as kickbacks to officials.

However, officials have strongly denied the allegations.

In a joint statement, the Ministry and GRA said the ITAS project is a major reform initiative supported by the World Bank, aimed at modernising tax operations, improving transparency, and strengthening efficiency at the GRA.

The system will consolidate taxpayer information into a single digital platform, providing online services and improving overall service delivery.

According to the statement, the project’s procurement was conducted through an open international competitive bidding process in line with World Bank guidelines, allowing both national and international firms to participate.

The initial contract was awarded to Canadian firm SOGEMA Technologies, but after the company declared bankruptcy, the government, in consultation with the World Bank, engaged the second-ranked bidder to ensure continuity.

Following due diligence, the Arabsoft and Tunisie Micro-Informatique (TMI) consortium was selected to implement the ITAS solution.

The final contract, valued at $7.27 million, includes a 10% withholding tax and covers hardware, services, and firewall subscriptions.

The Ministry said the ITAS platform will enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability in tax administration, reduce fraud, and improve revenue collection to support national development.

It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and due process, urging the public to rely on official sources for accurate information.