Christian Aid calls for “severe tax policy reforms” in sub-Saharan Africa

Inequality in some of Africa’s largest countries is set to worsen unless their governments introduce significant tax reforms.
That is the conclusion of a new report by Christian Aid and Tax Justice Network Africa, focussing on eight African countries: Kenya, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
In the report, the charities recommend that governments in sub-Saharan Africa raise tax revenue and put tax equity at the centre of fiscal reform.
Moreover, the report advocates co-ordinated action across Africa, and urges the wider international community to tackle the issues of financial secrecy and tax havens at a global level.
With income inequality remaining high in many developing countries, the report’s findings offer an important insight into the relation between tax reform and economic growth. It observes that despite Africa’s “much-touted” growth, the spoils of success are being unevenly shared among its population.