Chronicle Editor
Prosper Ndlovu in Ouagadougou, BURKINA FASO
THE African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) has rallied different stakeholders in the continent, including the media, to scale up collaboration towards increasing domestic resource mobilization (DRM) to drive the region’s development agenda.
Speaking on behalf of ATAF Executive Secretary, Mr Logan Wort, during a media and communications taxation training conference held here this week, Mr Eugene Southgate, said internal communicators and journalists across Africa have a critical role to play to enhance taxation in their respective countries.
“The media plays a critical role in shaping public perception, influencing policy discussions, and promoting informed civic engagement,” he said.
“In the tax landscape, this role becomes even more vital. When tax policies are misunderstood or misrepresented, it leads to misconceptions, reduced compliance, and ultimately, revenue losses, which then directly impact on a country’s ability to grow its economy in order to take care of its people,” said Mr Southgate.
“We have seen across many of our member countries, when tax matters are communicated effectively, they foster trust, accountability, and voluntary compliance, which are key ingredients for sustainable domestic revenue mobilisation. So, what and how tax information is communicated is crucial.”
Mr Southgate said journalists, in particular, have a very important role to play in keeping the public and citizenry informed about the truth, as well as exposing negative practices such as corruption and tax evasion.
“You have one of the most powerful tools available – the word is mightier than the sword. Government communicators have an equally important role to play – not only in keeping the citizenry informed but to make information readily available in a simple and understandable way so that when the public engage with the revenue authority it is easy and pleasant,” he added.
“The paying of taxes can be traced backed thousands of years so there is general understanding of its place in society. But many seem to have forgotten that, the challenge to our communicators is how we communicate the message of DRM to the people.”
Turning to the significance of the regional media training programme, Mr Southgate said a well-informed media is an essential partner in explaining complex tax policies in a way that resonates with the public.
He commended the establishment of the African Tax Media Network in 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, as a landmark step in this direction, creating a dedicated platform to support journalists and communicators in tax reporting.
“This workshop builds on that vision, providing an opportunity to equip media professionals with the tools to engage effectively with tax issues,” said Mr Southgate.
“Effective tax administration requires a collaborative approach. Tax authorities and the media share a common goal: to serve the public interest.
“While tax administrations work to implement fair and efficient tax systems, the media ensures that these efforts are understood and scrutinised by the public.”
He noted inherent challenges and communication gaps such as limited access to information, and technical complexities, which often hinder productive engagement between tax officials and journalists.
The workshop sought to bridge these gaps by fostering dialogue, building mutual understanding, and developing strategies for effective communication. Through targeted discussions, it explored best practices for tax transparency, the role of digital media in tax awareness, and innovative storytelling techniques that can make tax matters more relatable.
Since its inception, ATAF has been at the forefront of building strong, effective, and efficient tax administrations across Africa.
It’s work has contributed significantly to improving domestic revenue mobilisation. Over the past 15 years, ATAF has provided technical assistance, training, and policy support that has helped member countries increase their tax-to-GDP ratios, enhance compliance rates, and combat illicit financial flows.
Beyond technical capacity-building, has also prioritised communication through media training programs, knowledge-sharing platforms, and stakeholder engagement initiative, which have empowered journalists and tax administrators alike to communicate tax matters more effectively. Through partnerships with international organisations and regional bodies, ATAF continues to champion transparency and accountability in tax governance.
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