Chronicle Editor
Prosper Ndlovu in Ouagadougou, BURKINA FASO
THE call to strengthen the capacity of the media in Africa to expose Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) and promote effective and efficient taxation has come under spotlight as the continent seeks leverage for ensuring sustainable development across the region.
During the just-ended taxation conference for African media and tax administration communicators in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, delegates emphasized the need to scale up domestic resource mobilization (DRM) to move away from aid dependence.
To achieve this, the media has a critical role to play, especially in exposing rampant IFFs, which rob African states of nearly US$80 billion annually, according to official estimates.
These flows, in addition to facilitating money laundering and tax evasion, promote corruption and deprive African states of crucial resources for the implementation of ambitious public policies in the areas of health, education, infrastructure and economic development.
A Burkina Faso senior government official, Mr Mamadou Sere, who was standing in for the Minister of Economics and Finance in the host country, said IFFs were a major drawback to Africa’s progress.
“The figures are alarming. Every year, African countries lose billions of dollars to illicit financial flows,” he said.
“It is, therefore, imperative that we strengthen our mechanisms to combat these practices and work together to put in place effective strategies to stem this financial haemorrhage that is holding back our development efforts.
“In this fight, the media and communication professionals play a key role. By informing the general public, raising awareness of tax obligations and denouncing fraudulent practices, you contribute to the formation of a conscious and committed public opinion.”
Mr Sere further said the media are essential partners in promoting tax transparency and encouraging positive change in society.
Participants commended the conference theme: “Strengthening the capacity of the media to cover issues relating to illicit financial flows”, as it represented an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between tax administrations and the media in order to build an effective communication framework, based on trust and the exchange of information.
In his remarks, chairman of the African Tax Media Network (ATMEN), Mr Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh, said the media must be part of the tax revolution in the continent.
“Today, in Ouagadougou, we are not merely participants at a meeting; we are part of a movement. A movement to amplify the role of journalism in taxation, to bridge the divide between tax administrations and the media, and to ensure that African voices tell Africa’s tax story from an African perspective. This mission is urgent, and it is vital,” said Mr Sengbeh.
“As journalists, communicators, and advocates of tax justice, we are the messengers of change. Our pens, microphones, and cameras are not just tools; they are instruments of empowerment, fostering understanding between tax authorities and the citizens they serve.
“We recognize that tax is not just about numbers—it is about the lifeblood of our economies, the foundation of our infrastructure, and the catalyst for the Africa we all dream of,” he said.
“Taxation is the lifeblood of any nation’s development, and our role in shaping the public’s perception of tax policies, reforms, and obligations cannot be overstated.”
Mr Sengbeh went on to highlight the journey of ATMEN, which he said was a “Testament of Collaboration”- born out of necessity to transform Africa.
He recalled how in 2018, over 70 journalists and communication officers met in Johannesburg under the auspices of ATAF, and saw the need for tax issues to be placed at the heart of media discussions.
A year later, in Kigali, the same cause was reinforced and it was there that ATMEN took its first breath, an idea ignited by the shared commitment of journalists and tax communicators who understood that Africa’s tax narrative needed to be told by those who understood it best—Africans.
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