The minister of Works and Infrastructure, has denied that government granted tax exemption for Banjul rehabilitation roads project.

Ebrima Sillah’s made the denial despite the National Audit report indicating a possible tax exemption for the contract.

However, Mr Sillah accepted the government waived duties for the contract.

Speaking at a government news conference yesterday (1 September) at the International Conference Centre, he said:”I can assure you that the government actually complied with the advice of GRA and the contact doesn’t include tax exemption. The only waiver in the contact was duties.”

“Regarding the withholiding tax, we are complying fully and we are deducting the withholiding tax from the contract,” he added.

According to Mr Sillah, the government took this step after advice from the Ministry of Finance and Economics Affairs.

The government faced a backlash over the two billion dalasis Banjul roads project after July flash floods submerged parts of the nation’s capital and displaced hundreds of people from from their homes.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba