Ex-Ivorian candidate demands transparent probe into tax embezzlement
Former Ivorian presidential candidate Ahoua Don Mello has called for a transparent investigation into the alleged embezzlement of 39 billion CFA francs at Côte d’Ivoire’s tax directorate.
Former Ivorian presidential candidate and former minister Ahoua Don Mello has called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the alleged embezzlement of 39 billion CFA francs at Côte d’Ivoire’s General Directorate of Taxes (DGI). In a statement issued in Abidjan on Wednesday, Don Mello said uncovering the truth is essential to promoting transparency in public finance and strengthening the country’s economic and financial sovereignty.
While stressing that he would not interfere with the judicial process, he urged the Economic and Financial Criminal Pole (PPEF) to conduct an independent investigation to identify all those responsible while respecting due process and the presumption of innocence. Don Mello also called for the full recovery of any misappropriated public funds and proposed an independent audit of tax administration procedures. He recommended the use of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and blockchain, to improve transparency and curb corruption, tax fraud and financial irregularities.
The Nigerian stake is clear. Côte d’Ivoire’s tax administration reforms are closely watched in Nigeria, as both countries face similar challenges in improving tax collection and combating corruption. The call for digital technologies to improve transparency is particularly relevant, as Nigeria is also seeking to modernise its tax administration.
From a Nigerian vantage point, the Ivorian case is a reminder that tax administration reforms are essential for economic development. Nigeria’s own tax collection has been low, and the country has struggled with corruption and inefficiency.
This echoes the 2010s tax administration reforms in Nigeria, which also sought to improve collection and transparency. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a recognition that tax administration is essential for economic development.
The winners: the Ivorian public, who may benefit from improved transparency; and the Ivorian government, which has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to accountability. The losers: the officials implicated in the alleged embezzlement; and the Nigerian government, which must learn from the Ivorian experience.
Bottom Line: A former Ivorian candidate is calling for a probe into tax embezzlement. The focus is on transparency and digital tools. The question is whether the investigation will lead to accountability or remain a political gesture.