WAEMU Tax Officials Meet in Togo to Address Mining Sector Tax Risks

Mining

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 11:12

WAEMU Tax Officials Meet in Togo to Address Mining Sector Tax Risks

(Togo First) - On Monday, May 19, tax and customs officials from the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) gathered in the Togolese capital to discuss strategies for managing tax risks in the mining sector.

The week-long meeting, organized by the WAEMU Commission, aims to strengthen member states’ capacities to combat tax evasion, avoidance, and false invoicing related to mining activities. Delegates will also share practical tools to identify and address tax-related challenges.

The initiative seeks to bolster tax revenues and improve coordination between tax and customs administrations, particularly as mining operators increase the number of parades they use.

Essokiza Anakpa, Director General of Budget and Finance and Permanent Secretary of the ECOWAS-UEMOA unit, opened the meeting on behalf of Togo’s Minister of Economy and Finance. “Despite the efforts of Member States, there are still major challenges to be met in the fight against tax avoidance in the mining sector,” he declared.

According to WAEMU Commission data, mining-related tax and non-tax revenues constitute a significant portion of national budgets in the region. In 2023, these revenues accounted for 27.8% of Mali’s budget and 9.4% of Senegal’s. In Togo, where mining’s contribution to GDP remains modest, the sector represented nearly 2% of the budget in 2022.

The meeting runs through May 23.

This article was initially published in French by Octave A. Bruce

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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