ROGER ATHANASE MEYONG ABATH: A SEASONED TAX SPECIALIST TO HEAD THE DGT

A man well versed in tax theory and with professional experience in the field of taxation, he was appointed to the prestigious post of Director General of Taxation on 20 March 2023 by the President of the Republic.

Painting a faithful portrait of Roger Athanase MEYONG ABATH, the newly appointed Director General of Taxation, is not an easy exercise, as his career path is so varied. A career that many observers do not hesitate to describe as rich and intensive, given the multiple positions held, the knowledge accumulated and the exploits made.

At the academic level, it could be said that Mr. Roger Athanase MEYONG ABATH is overflowing with knowledge. The heaviness of his bag of treasures suggests that he wanted to collect everything on his path. Thus, he has piled up diplomas, some as prestigious as others, such as a PhD in Public Finance (2010); a Master’s degree in Mining Administration (2016); a Master’s degree in Tax Policy and Administration (2006); a Diploma of Higher Specialised Studies (DESS) in International Relations, with an option in Money, Banking and International Finance (2003); a Professional Master’s degree in Banking, Money and Finance (2000) as well as a Master’s degree in Economic Sciences (1997). Beyond all the above, he became a tax specialist after graduating from the National School of Administration and Magistracy of Yaounde (ENAM, 1998-2000 batch) with a diploma as Financial Revenue centres Inspector (tax option).

It is at the end of this training that he started his professional career at the Directorate General of Taxation, as a research assistant at the Division of Legislation, Disputes and International Taxation Relations. Five years later (2005), he became Head of the International Taxation Relations Unit. In 2007, he was promoted to Head of the Tax Credit Validation and Reimbursement Unit. He held this position for 7 years before his appointment as Director of Large Companies in 2014. In 2020, he moved to the Tax Inspection Service, as Head of this structure. He worked there until 20 March 2023, when the President of the Republic, Paul BIYA promoted him to the post of Director General of Taxation.

As other indicators of his rich professional experience and his heavy intellectual background in the taxation field, it is worth noting that the new Director General of Taxation is a lecturer in various academic institutions, notably, the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM), the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC), the University of Yaoundé 2, INTEC of Paris (Yaoundé Centre) as well as the Higher Programme of Specialisation in Public Finance (PSSFP). Furthermore, he is the author of a reference book in this field, entitled: “Fiscal and customs harmonisation in the CEMAC zone”, published by Edition Universitaires Européennes in 2011.  He also holds several international certifications, notably from the OECD, in taxation matters. All in all, he is a real tax monster who is officially commissioned today as DGT Boss. /-