The director of Finance and Accounting at the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), has been unanimously re-elected Chairman of the Finance Committee of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) to provide rightful direction and sound financial management system for the organisation.
Alhajie Saihou Denton was re-elected due to his commitment, dedication and length of experience in the management of finance and accounting.
In the course of electing the chairman and vice chairman for the new term at WCO’s 106th session held in Brussels from the 4th to 7th April 2022, Mr. Denton was nominated by the United States, seconded by Canada, supported by EU, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Russia etc., and in the end, he was unanimously elected as chairman once again.
Mr. Raju Boddu of Antigua and Barbuda as elected vice chairman of the Finance Committee.
GRA Director of finance and Accounting was accompanied by two deputy directors, Sarja Camara and Isatou Dampha respectively.
Mr. Denton is the current chairman of the Finance Committee of the WCO – a body of 184 nations, as well as the chairman of the Finance Committee of WCO, West and Central African region. Mr. Denton was the first African to hold both positions at the same time.
Mr. Denton successfully chaired the finance committee to tackle various critical issues of the WCO including financial statements, budgets, investments, membership contributions, Capital expenditure and investments in Information Technology, and funding of the new strategic plan.
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Mr. Denton was personally thanked by the WCO Secretary General, Mr, Kunio Mikuriya, and fellow finance committee members as an excellent chair who competently steered the session through difficult issues and managed to get consensus amongst members with sometimes very divergent views. Mr. Denton drew much praise from his peers for his financial acumen.
The GRA Commissioner General Yankuba Darboe said re-appointing Mr. Denton was not a surprise to him for the fact that “Mr. Denton is a competent Accountant and he was able to achieve a lot during the first term of his appointment. He deserves the re-appointment as the chairman of the finance committee of the World Customs Organisation.”
Reacting to his re-appointment Mr. Denton said: “I am extremely pleased that my contributions to the WCO Finance Committee is recognised and rewarded by the WCO.”
“I have served the committee for nine years, with two years as the vice chair and one year as the chairman. It is equally pleasing that I am also steering the affairs of the Finance Committee of the WCO West and Central regional body as chairman,” he said.
“I am very proud to be flying the GRA and Gambian flag in such a high international domain. “I want to also thank my able boss, Mr. Yankuba Darboe for his sound leadership and for having the confidence and foresight in selecting me nine years ago to represent GRA at the WCO Finance Committee.
