Minister of Finance Sheku Bangura has said that effective tax administration plays a prominent role in achieving national developmental goals.

He stated this when a delegation from the West Africa Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) visited him in Freetown.

Affirming the importance of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) as a key arm of the Ministry of Finance, Bangura underscored the necessity of robustly addressing the role of tax administration in achieving developmental goals of member countries.

He added that since the government of Sierra Leone takes tax matters very seriously, it would carefully consider recommendations, aimed at strengthening regional tax systems.

The WARAF delegation visited the minister in the course of their Annual General Meeting (AGM) which ended in Freetown recently.

The forum, dedicated to enhancing tax administration and public service delivery across West Africa, leveraged Sierra Leone's progress in tax reforms during the meeting.

WATAF Executive Director Jules Tapsoba highlighted the significance of holding the event in Sierra Leone for the first time, emphasizing the organization's desire to learn from the nation's advancements. He stressed the pivotal role of effective tax administration in driving development across West Africa, particularly amidst current global economic volatility.

The high-level policy dialogue centered around financing development through effective tax systems, offering potential pathways for robust and sustainable growth in the region.

Chairperson Elaine Djigueemde-Ouedraogo expressed gratitude to the government and the NRA for their contributions to the AGM's preparation.

Lead of the WATAF delegation, Jeneba Bangura, highlighted the Forum’s commitment to enhancing tax administration efficiency and public service delivery across member states.