Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (M) with some officials of GIABA and participants
The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has called on the media to educate the public on money laundering and other related offences which fuel terrorism and insecurity in the sub-region in recent times.
Speaking with journalists at a workshop organised by the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) last Monday in Accra, he said money laundering and terrorism divert resources from legitimate economic activities, which hinders economic growth and contribute to persistent poverty.
GIABA is a specialised institution of ECOWAS, as well as a FATF-style Regional Body (FSRB) for West Africa. It was established in 2000 by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, with the mandate to protect member states’ economies from the laundering of the proceeds of crimes and combat terrorism financing (TF).
Director General of GIABA, Edwin Harris, for his part, said the media remains a veritable channel of increasing awareness on money laundering and terrorism financing.
He explained that engagement with the media was therefore another effort to establish and sustain further partnerships with practitioners across the region.
According to the Director General, as part of efforts to increase awareness on transnational organised crime such as money laundering and terrorist financing, the officials of GIABA will visit some selected media houses where GIABA desks will later be established.
President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, who commended GIABA officials for expanding its horizons in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing in West Africa, assured them of its preparedness to provide the necessary assistance required to help it accomplish its goals.
Apart from some seasoned journalists selected from 16 media organisations, the workshop also brought together a representative of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FCI), a lecturer of the Department of Language and Communication Sciences (KNUST), Dr. Daniel Nkrumah who made a presentation on the methodology and techniques of investigating money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as its implications for West Africa among others.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah