ATI Regional Follow-Up Technical Meeting on Tax Expenditures: West Africa

The Addis Tax Initiative (ATI) is pleased to announce the forthcoming organisation of the first follow-up technical meeting, building on the success of the regional workshops on tax expenditures (TEs) that took place in 2022 in Lagos and Nairobi, and earlier this year in Manila. This initiative is a collaborative effort by the Addis Tax Initiative, the Council on Economic Policies (CEP), and the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).

The first follow-up technical meeting on tax expenditures will be held from 18 to 20 September 2023 in Accra, Ghana. The series of regional workshops on tax expenditures, conducted by the ATI in partnership with CEP and IDOS, marks a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to improve TE management, reporting, estimation, and evaluation. The first series of workshops provided a platform for tax officers, policymakers, experts, researchers, and other key stakeholders in the context of the ATI to share and deliberate upon core aspects of TE practices and standards. In this sense, it builds on Commitment 3 of the ATI Declaration 2025, which states:

We will improve tax transparency by publishing tax expenditures regularly to facilitate cost-benefit assessments, ultimately helping to reduce wasteful tax expenditures, improving taxpayers’ trust, and creating a more level playing field for all types of businesses. We will improve inter-agency cooperation on tax expenditures and foster the coordination of granting tax concession activities.

Continuing the journey

The initiative builds on the Global Tax Expenditures Database (GTED), a repository that helps to increase transparency on tax expenditures and sheds light on their critical role in tax systems around the globe.

The first follow-up technical meeting on tax expenditures will expand upon the insights, strategies, and momentum gained from the regional workshops. On this occasion, the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) of Ghana join as local implementing partners.

This meeting will delve into the specific challenges faced by governments in estimating revenue forgone, reporting on TEs, evaluating their impact, and implementing TE reforms. By facilitating dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration, the ATI strives to contribute to strengthen regional networks and global task forces focused on specific dimensions of TE estimation, reporting, and evaluation.

Please note: attendance to this event is by invitation only.

For inquiries and additional information, please contact secretariat@taxcompact.net