By Omar Bah
The Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA), Yankuba Darboe, has advocated for enhanced collaboration among tax administrators in West Africa to tackle illicit financial flows (IFFs). These regional flows are primarily driven by trade misinvoicing, tax evasion, inadequate governance, and limited financial inclusion.
Speaking on Wednesday at the 11th International Tax Conference of the West African Union of Tax Institutes (WAUTI) in Accra, Ghana, CG Darboe underscored the necessity of regional cooperation to address the significant economic losses caused by IFFs, which are estimated to drain up to $50 billion from Africa each year. “Illicit financial flows pose a serious threat, siphoning billions annually from the continent. Collaboration is essential to combating this issue,” he asserted.
Darboe further emphasized that regional partnerships, data-sharing mechanisms, and harmonized policies would enhance the region’s capacity to detect and prevent profit shifting, smuggling, and tax evasion. “We must accelerate progress made under frameworks like the African Tax Administration Forum and amplify our collective voice in global tax governance discussions,” he stated.
He also pointed out the importance of capacity building in tax administration, digital transformation of systems, and knowledge sharing among nations to improve enforcement and compliance. Darboe stressed that political commitment and international collaboration are vital to curbing these financial outflows and ensuring that resources are redirected toward development.
His initiatives align with broader efforts by organizations such as the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) and the African Union, which champion institutional reforms and technology adoption to enhance tax systems and reduce IFFs. “As developing economies, we confront a dual challenge of diminishing external aid and unsustainable debt levels. These pressures necessitate a reevaluation of traditional approaches and a focus on self-reliance.”
He concluded domestic revenue mobilization is “no longer a choice—it’s imperative for financing development, reducing inequality, and securing the future of our nations.”
