The Gambia Revenue Authority chief wants tax offices across West Africa to work together against money schemes.
Bad money flows happen in West Africa when people lie about trade values, avoid taxes, face poor leadership, and lack banking options.
Yankuba Darboe spoke at a tax meeting in Ghana on Wednesday. He said working as a team would help stop the $50 billion that leaves Africa every year through illegal money moves.
"Illegal money flows hurt Africa badly, taking billions each year. Working together is the answer," he said.
Darboe believes sharing data between countries and making similar rules will help catch tax cheats, smugglers, and companies that hide profits.
"We must speed up the progress made through the African Tax Administration Forum and speak up more in world tax talks," he added.
He discussed better training tax workers, using computer systems, and sharing what works between countries. He stressed that political support and team efforts between nations are needed to keep money from leaving and use it for growth instead.
Darboe supports the same goals as groups like the West African Tax Administration Forum and the African Union. These groups want better tax systems and more technology to reduce the flow of illegal money.
"As growing economies, we face two problems - less help from outside and debt we cannot pay back. These issues mean we must think differently and rely on ourselves."
He said raising money at home "must happen to pay for growth, make life more fair, and build good futures for our countries."
Darboe added that today, growing economies need to collect taxes better to keep growing and stay strong with money.
He said problems from less outside help and more debt need new, local answers to boost money collection at home.
"This meeting gives us a place to talk and work together on this," he said.
Darboe pointed out that taxing online businesses involves both hard tasks and new opportunities, so solid plans for fair tax collection are needed.
"The talks about changing world tax rules through the UN come at just the right time, as Africa wants a more fair world tax system that includes everyone."
He asked countries and partners at the meeting to promise again to build stronger tax systems, make more people pay taxes, and help each other across borders.
"Together, we can make strong plans that both help us collect more taxes at home and build stronger economies when world problems come. As we look for ways to raise more money at home, the online economy brings both good chances and hard puzzles."
The meeting in Ghana aims to push for better local money raising under the theme "Raising money at home when outside help drops and debts rise: Plans for growing economies."
Bad money flows happen in West Africa when people lie about trade values, avoid taxes, face poor leadership, and lack banking options.
Yankuba Darboe spoke at a tax meeting in Ghana on Wednesday. He said working as a team would help stop the $50 billion that leaves Africa every year through illegal money moves.
"Illegal money flows hurt Africa badly, taking billions each year. Working together is the answer," he said.
Darboe believes sharing data between countries and making similar rules will help catch tax cheats, smugglers, and companies that hide profits.
"We must speed up the progress made through the African Tax Administration Forum and speak up more in world tax talks," he added.
He discussed better training tax workers, using computer systems, and sharing what works between countries. He stressed that political support and team efforts between nations are needed to keep money from leaving and use it for growth instead.
Darboe supports the same goals as groups like the West African Tax Administration Forum and the African Union. These groups want better tax systems and more technology to reduce the flow of illegal money.
"As growing economies, we face two problems - less help from outside and debt we cannot pay back. These issues mean we must think differently and rely on ourselves."
He said raising money at home "must happen to pay for growth, make life more fair, and build good futures for our countries."
Darboe added that today, growing economies need to collect taxes better to keep growing and stay strong with money.
He said problems from less outside help and more debt need new, local answers to boost money collection at home.
"This meeting gives us a place to talk and work together on this," he said.
Darboe pointed out that taxing online businesses involves both hard tasks and new opportunities, so solid plans for fair tax collection are needed.
"The talks about changing world tax rules through the UN come at just the right time, as Africa wants a more fair world tax system that includes everyone."
He asked countries and partners at the meeting to promise again to build stronger tax systems, make more people pay taxes, and help each other across borders.
"Together, we can make strong plans that both help us collect more taxes at home and build stronger economies when world problems come. As we look for ways to raise more money at home, the online economy brings both good chances and hard puzzles."
The meeting in Ghana aims to push for better local money raising under the theme "Raising money at home when outside help drops and debts rise: Plans for growing economies."
