Mr. Darboe who is also the current chairman of WATAF, ECOWAS Member states also met his counterpart, director general of Revenue Authority of Cape Verde.
His Cote d’Ivoire visit was between the 14th & 15th February 2022 and Cape Verde was 17th and 18th February 2022.
The visit, according to the Commissioner General Yankuba Darboe, came as a result of WATAF’s last Council and General Assembly Meeting which was held in Abuja, Nigeria, in September 2021.
The meeting resolved that the chairman and executive secretary visit the director generals and ministers of Finance of Cote d’Ivoire and Cape Verde to discuss matters connecting to their participation in WATAF meetings, trainings and other events and the payment of subscription fees to help finance the activities of WATAF.
In a meeting with the DG of Taxes in Cote d’Ivoire – on 14 February 2022, the GRA Commissioner General Darboe highlighted the main reasons why the Council and General Assembly approved the visit to these countries. According to him, these reasons include getting Cote d’Ivoire to fully participate in WATAF events and activities and for the payment of subscription to the WATAF Secretariat.
During the visit, the WATAF Executive Secretary made presentation on the journey, the attendance of meetings and trainings by member countries, subscription payments over the nine years of WATAF’s existence and the activities that are planned for the year 2022, ratification of the WATAF agreement, request for technical assistance and the hosting of WATAF events.
The DG thanked the Chairman, the Executive Secretary of WATAF and the team for the visit and for the presentation and documents shared. He noted the halt in the participation of Cote d’Ivoire in WATAF activities and the arrears in the subscription contributions and promised they will fully recommence participation and that arrangements for the payment of the arrears will be made.
In a similar Meeting with the Minister of Budget in Cote d’Ivoire on 15 February 2022, WATAF Chairman Yankuba Darboe commended the Honorable Minister and his team for accepting to receive his team and meeting them. He recalled during the meeting that WATAF was established in 2012 to bring Tax Administrations in West Africa together for increased collaboration and to speak with one cohesive voice at international forums.
The Executive Secretary made a video presentation on WATAF and its achievements over the years. He highlighted the need to partner and participate in WATAF events. He invited the Honourable Minister to be a keynote speaker in an upcoming event being organised by WATAF in collaboration with International Bureau for Fiscal Documentation (IBFD). He also highlighted the need for the Ministry to participate in WATAF events, to facilitate the implementation of policy recommendations arising from WATAF meetings.
“The Honourable Minister welcomed the team and wished us all a good stay in Abidjan. He said ECOWAS is more integrated in Africa than any other bloc and if WATAF is attempting to bring Tax Administrations together, their efforts should be welcomed and supported.”
He promised that “they will always be available to support WATAF and promised to get Cote d'Ivoire to participate in WATAF events and activities.”
