Taxation Directorate gets new DG.

The taxation expert was appointed via a presidential decree. His appointment was first made public on Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV 5:00pm prime time newscast.

Meyong Abath, who until his appointment, was serving as Head of the Inspectorate of Taxation Services at the Directorate General of Taxation, replaces Modeste Mopa Fatoing, who has been seconded to the International Monetary Fund, IMF, in Washington.

Meyong Abath is no greenhorn to the Taxation Department, having served the strategic institution in different capacities. Sources say he knows all the four walls of the giant institution.

Following his appointment yesterday, several social media users who took to their handles to celebrate the feat, describing Meyong Abath as a square peg in a square hole.

The graduate of the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, IRIC, prides self of a rich experience in taxation-related issues.

The widely read revenue expert is also a graduate of the prestigious National School of Administration and Magistracy, ENAM, and Ecole Supérieure des Mines de Paris.

He holds a PhD in taxation from the Paris Dauphine University, a public research university based in Paris, France.

Meyong Abath is the author of a book on tax harmonisation in the CEMAC zone. The very discreet and quiet achiever lectures in several universities in Cameroon and beyond.

Formerly Deputy Director of International Taxation and Director of Large Enterprises at the General Directorate of Taxes, Meyong Abath, contributed as Cameroon's expert to the tax harmonisation process in Central African sub-region.

Daunting task ahead

Meyong Abath takes over the Taxation Department from Modeste Mopa Fatoing, who joined the IMF in January this year.

Mopa left behind very heavy and large shoes for Meyong Abath to inherit. He assumes the role of Director General of Taxes at a time the sector is fully modernised.

The modernisation of the country’s taxation system, was one of the bulwark achievements of the former Director General.

Meyong Abath is stepping in at a time pressure is mounting for an adjustment of the country’s fiscal policy as part of efforts to improve Cameroon’s business climate to encourage local investments.

However, before leaving the country for the IMF, Modeste Mopa Fatoing, who spent a decade at the head of the institution, had boasted he laid a solid foundation of a modern tax system, capable of meeting the aspirations of authorities and taxpayers.

He had made the comment in what appeared then as a farewell letter addressed to staff of his directorate.

His comments came a day after a letter signed by the Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, disclosing President Biya’s approval for him to join the IMF, had gone viral.

Mopa is currently heading the Secretariat of the Tax Administration Diagnostic Assessment Tool, TADAT, based in Washington, United States of America, USA.

"From the smallest agent...to the senior staff, through the middle management, I would like to tell you here all the pleasure I had working with you during all these years. Together we have achieved a lot. Together we have overcome many obstacles. I leave you with a light heart, convinced that together we have put in place the foundation of a modern tax administration, capable of meeting the aspirations of the authorities and Cameroonian taxpayers, most of whom only aspire to fiscal civility,” Mopa had said in the emotion-packed letter which circulated prior to his departure.

He had however noted that: “Many things certainly remain to be done. But as you know, the broad outlines have already been drawn. The intelligence, available for their implementation and improvement, are not lacking”.

He then advised is now ex-collaborators to "remain showcase administrators of our country by always keeping in mind the virtues of professionalism, humility, probity and especially solidarity”.

"I will henceforth lead the TADAT secretariat within the International Monetary Fund to contribute to the modernisation of tax administrations. From where I am, I will certainly have to work on files from all over the world. But you can guess that I will be particularly interested in the tax administration of our country. Thus, we could, in different positions, continue to serve our dear and beautiful Cameroon,” Mopa had concluded.