CÔTE D’IVOIRE SEEKS TO REBUILD TAX CULTURE THROUGH NATIONAL AWARENESS DRIVE

Ivory Coast Launches National Tax Awareness Drive to Build Public Trust and Boost Revenue.

Ivory coast National tax awareness drive Tax compliance and development Public trust Revenue Finance.

In a bold move to reset public perception and build a more transparent and inclusive tax culture, Ivorian authorities have launched the country’s first-ever National Tax Citizenship Day, marking a major step toward reshaping how citizens engage with the state on matters of fiscal responsibility.

Held at the Palais de la Culture in Treichville, the initiative is spearheaded by the Directorate General of Taxation (DGI) under the Ministry of Finance and Budget, and is a central component of the Program to Improve Governance for the Delivery of Basic Services to Citizens (PAGDS). More than just a symbolic occasion, the initiative is a public campaign to make tax payment not just a duty but a shared civic value.

“This initiative aims to create a space for dialogue, to popularize tax-related laws, to bring the tax administration closer to citizens, and to promote exemplary behavior,” said Mr. Sie Abou Ouattara, Director General of the DGI.

With the theme “Tax Compliance and Development”, the event featured tax education booths across the country and provided a platform for dialogue between tax authorities and the public. The DGI hopes this will reverse deep-rooted distrust in the tax system, which officials say continues to hinder efforts to broaden the tax base and finance national development.

Deputy Chief of Staff Mr. Vassogbo Bamba pointed to tangible progress. Tax revenues have jumped from 974 billion CFA francs in 2011 to a record 4,250 billion in 2024, a near fivefold increase. These gains, he stressed, have directly funded crucial infrastructure across sectors like health, education, water, and roads.

“The government has been able to finance numerous infrastructure projects in priority areas, such as health, education, water, security, and roads,” said Bamba.

Still, Côte d’Ivoire’s tax-to-GDP ratio stands at just 13 percent, well below the 20 percent benchmark set by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). Authorities say the next frontier lies in formalizing the informal sector and increasing voluntary compliance.

Madeleine Yao, National Coordinator of PAGDS, outlined several digital reforms already underway, including electronic document management, land governance tools, and geographic information systems that have enabled a more accurate mapping of taxable assets.

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CÔTE D’IVOIRE SEEKS TO REBUILD TAX CULTURE THROUGH NATIONAL AWARENESS DRIVE

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