September 24, 2025
Rensis House, 5 Gloucester Street, Freetown
The 7th High-Level Policy Dialogue and 21st General Assembly of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) concluded in Freetown, Sierra Leone; with a unified call for robust tax reforms to drive sustainable development across the region.
Commissioner General Yankuba Darboe of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) emphasized that “Taxation is the backbone of national development,” urging West African nations to modernize their tax systems to meet evolving economic challenges. This sentiment was also shared by the Liberia Commissioner General Thomas Dorbor Jallah, echoed , “Africa’s challenge is not a lack of wealth, but the failure to mobilize and manage it. Official Development Assistance is drying up. We now need to look within and find resources.”
Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, highlighted the urgency of domestic revenue mobilization, noting, “If our revenue capacity is weak, our development will be weak. But with stronger systems we can turn people’s hopes into progress,” VP Jalloh noted. Building on the Vice President’s contribution, Minister of Finance Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to tax reforms, recognizing the National Revenue Authority (NRA) as a vital component in the country’s development aspirations.
In the similar vein, the Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority, Jeneba J. Bangura expressed gratitude for the overwhelming regional support: ”This conference demonstrates the strength of collaboration across West Africa. Together, we are shaping a future where tax administrations are not only efficient but also people centered responsive and aligned with our development goals,” she noted.
The summit underscored the need for regional collaboration, technological integration, and policy harmonization to enhance tax compliance and revenue generation. This ensures that West African nations can finance their own development in the face of diminishing external aid.
As the forum concluded, participants committed to strengthening their resolve in building resilient, modern, and sustainable tax systems guided by transparency, integrity, and inclusivity.
The discussions and resolutions from the summit are expected to shape the future of tax administration in West Africa, promoting economic self-sufficiency and sustainable growth for the region.