PHOTO: Jules Tapsoba, Executive Secretary of WATAF
Statement by Jules Tapsoba, Executive Secretary of the West African Tax Administration Forum, on World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2026
The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) joins the international community in commemorating World Press Freedom Day and reaffirms that press freedom is a fundamental pillar of democratic governance, transparency, and sustainable development across Africa.
WATAF is a regional organisation of tax administrations in West Africa, committed to strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation through cooperation, capacity building, and the promotion of efficient, transparent, and accountable tax systems, while engaging constructively with key stakeholders, including the media, across the continent.
A free, independent, and responsible press is indispensable to transparent and effective tax systems. By informing citizens, shaping public discourse, and holding institutions to account, the media strengthens public trust, improves voluntary compliance, and supports sustainable domestic revenue mobilisation. Across Africa, journalists continue to play a decisive role in advancing transparency in public finance, exposing illicit financial flows and tax evasion, and reinforcing accountability in revenue governance.
WATAF commends media professionals and institutions that uphold the highest standards of accuracy, ethics, and professionalism, often in complex and constrained environments. Their contribution remains critical to strengthening democratic institutions and advancing inclusive development.
Effective tax systems require openness, access to information, and sustained public engagement. In this context, WATAF calls on revenue authorities across Africa to adopt transparent, responsive, and press-friendly approaches. Strategic partnerships with the media are essential to improving public understanding of tax policies, strengthening taxpayer confidence, and enhancing compliance, thereby boosting revenue collection and supporting national development priorities.
As African countries advance tax reforms and institutional strengthening, safeguarding press freedom must remain non-negotiable. An empowered and independent media is essential to fostering accountability, reinforcing the social contract, and sustaining economic resilience.
WATAF reaffirms its commitment to promoting transparency, knowledge sharing, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, including with the media, in building credible, resilient, and high-performing tax systems across West Africa and the African continent.