Poor tax education is a bane to good governance in Africa – Expert

Prince Rasaq ‘Kunle Quadri, President of West African Union of Tax Institutes (WAUTI), has expressed worry over low level of tax education in Africa saying the situation was a bane to good governance.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, he suggested that the citizenry on the continent needed to be educated from childhood on socio-economic importance of taxes.

The conference was organised by the Chartered Institute of Taxation Ghana (CITG) as part of its Tax Week celebration.

Prince Quadri said if the citizenry was conscious of and became interested in developmental agenda of government then they would be more inclined to contribute their quota through taxes.

He alluded to the co-operative attitude of most citizens in developed countries towards taxes and said African countries needed to imitate them.

Prince Quadri said “Citizens in developed countries have contributed to their advanced economies because they are responsible and responsive and they hold their governments accountable for their actions. This is simple and has to do with the conscience.”

He advised the citizenry to be more attentive to the developmental challenges and needs of their country and consequently contribute their quota to the system through taxation.

Prince Quadri said the press conference was organised to showcase activities of WAUTI and inform the public about its scheduled conference in Accra on August 24.

It is on the theme: “Strategies for Growth in Global Recession”.

CITG and Chartered Institute of Taxation in Nigeria in collaboration with Revenue Agencies in West Africa recently formed WAUTI to improve technical and tax education in the West African sub-region.

The union is expected to develop and enhance taxation profession and improve ethics and standards on the continent.

Source: GNA