BY: GODFRED AMAOFUL
A team from the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), yesterday, 28th November, 2023 called on the Director-General of GBC, Professor Amin Alhassan at Broadcasting House in Accra to build collaboration with the state broadcaster in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing in the sub-region.
GIABA said it is building the capacity of stakeholders including law enforcement agencies, the judiciary and financial institutions for a successful anti-graft fight. It therefore wants partnership with GBC, for awareness creation and education in the public space on the impact and dangers of illicit financial flows.
The anti-money laundering body is one of the five institutions of ECOWAS with its headquarters in Dakar, Senegal and several offices across some selected countries with responsibilities of fighting against illicit financial flows, and terrorist financing.
As a sub-regional body, it assesses countries that are placed on GIABA grey shortlist which affects the country’s financial transactions.
The team as part of effort to increase awareness about the extensive impact of money laundering and terrorists financing on country’s development, called on the state broadcaster (GBC) to help in the fight.
The team announced a package of training for journalist on these issues to create residual knowledge to facilitate accurate reportage on money laundering and terrorist financing.
The Head of the Nigerian Office of GIABA, Timothy Melaye said, about 88 billion Dollars are lost annually as a result of money laundering.
He highlighted how African youths are trafficked to third countries for organ harvesting and trafficking which he believes is alarming and the need for stringent measures to end the criminal trade.
The visit was to create a corporative relationship between the State Broadcaster and GIABA to train journalists on the issues of money laundering, organ trafficking, and terrorists financing.
Deputy Manager of the Compliance Unit at the Financial Intelligence Center (FIC), Rhoda Arthur, called for all hands-on deck approach in the fight against Illicit Financial Flows.
She explained the role of FIC in the fight.
The Director-General of GBC, Professor Amin Alhassan gave the team GBC’s assurance and readiness to support GIABA’s awareness creation drive.
