ECOWAS officials meet in Conakry to discuss tobacco taxation

Tax policy officials and development partners gathered in Conakry, Guinea, from August 10 to 12, 2026, to review the ECOWAS Directive on the Harmonisation of Excise Duties on Tobacco Products. The meeting included representatives from the ECOWAS Commission, the UEMOA Commission, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and various tax administration forums.

The primary objective was to determine how West African nations can utilize taxation more effectively to protect public health while simultaneously increasing revenue for sustainable development. Discussions highlighted the severe health and economic impacts of tobacco, noting that tobacco-related diseases cause approximately 4,400 deaths annually in Guinea alone, costing the nation roughly US$58 million per year.

Regional statistics presented during the gathering indicated that approximately 22,000 women die annually in Africa from preventable tobacco-related diseases, and 48.2 percent of young people in the African region are exposed to second-hand smoke in public spaces.