WATAF Sets Accra for Major Regional Tax Policy Summit

Abuja, Nigeria,  –  Tax leaders, policymakers, development partners and international experts from across Africa and beyond are expected in Accra, Ghana, in September for the West African Tax Administration Forum’s 8th High-Level Policy Dialogue and 23rd General Assembly.

The five-day gathering, scheduled for September 15–19, will be hosted by the Ghana Revenue Authority and will coincide with WATAF’s 15th anniversary.

The meeting will focus on how West African countries can strengthen tax systems, increase domestic revenue and better finance sustainable development amid economic uncertainty, digital transformation and changing global tax policies.

Held under the theme “Building Stronger Tax Administrations for Revenue Mobilisation and Sustainable Development,” the High-Level Policy Dialogue is expected to examine issues including digital transformation, taxpayer compliance, environmental fiscal policy, innovation and regional cooperation.

WATAF says the meeting will also provide an opportunity for tax administrations to exchange experiences and develop practical approaches to improving revenue collection across the region.

15 Years of Building Tax Capacity

Since its establishment in 2011, WATAF says it has trained more than 5,000 tax officials and senior tax executives across West Africa.

The Forum reports that between 2024 and mid-2026, it conducted 26 regional training programmes involving more than 2,365 tax officials.

In 2025 alone, WATAF trained 907 officials, exceeding its annual target by 58 percent. Specialized programmes in 2026 have so far reached more than 875 officials, including through courses on taxation of the digital economy and the Tax Administration Diagnostic Assessment Tool, known as TADAT.

WATAF has also expanded cooperation with regional and international institutions, including ECOWAS, UEMOA, the African Union, the African Development Bank, ATAF, CIAT, the World Bank and UN DESA.

WATAF Executive Secretary, Jules Tapsoba, said the anniversary offers an opportunity to assess the Forum’s achievements while preparing for its next phase.

He said the organization was established on the belief that stronger cooperation would lead to stronger tax administrations and that its next 15 years should build further on that foundation.

The Forum’s Council Chairperson and Director General of Taxes of Burkina Faso, Talato Eliane Djiguemdé-Ouédraogo, also called for greater regional cooperation, innovation and investment in tax institutions and personnel.

General Assembly to Set New Priorities

The 23rd General Assembly will bring together WATAF’s 15 member tax administrations to review the Forum’s progress and consider strategic priorities for the coming years.

The programme will also include a Development Partners and Donors Roundtable aimed at expanding technical cooperation and support for tax administration reforms.

Ghana Revenue Authority Commissioner General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong said Ghana was pleased to host the event, describing it as an opportunity to deepen cooperation and advance stronger tax systems across West Africa.

The Accra gathering is expected to attract Finance Ministers, Commissioners and Directors General of tax administrations, policymakers, academics, private-sector representatives, development partners and international tax experts.

WATAF says the discussions are expected to produce practical recommendations aimed at strengthening tax administration, improving domestic revenue mobilisation and helping West African countries build tax systems capable of supporting long-term economic development.