GIABA Organises Open House Forum on role of youth in ML/TF

DG GIABA Dr Abdoullahi Shehu

Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) will hold a day open house forum on “The Role of Youth in Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) in West Africa” on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at the Teachers’ Hall Complex, Accra, Ghana.

A media dispatch emailed to our reporter, said “the event is the fourth edition in the series of GIABA Open House Forum serves as a platform to educate stakeholders from ECOWAS member States on the deleterious effects and debilitating impact of money laundering and financing of terrorism on peace, security and sustainable development in West Africa”.

The Anti-Money Laundering Watchdog said the forum that involved about 100 participants comprises students of tertiary institutions, civil society organizations and the media including top government officials and regulatory agencies involved in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing are expected to take part in the event.

“The Open House is one of the awareness and advocacy strategy adopted by GIABA to sensitize stakeholders particularly the youths on the threats of money laundering and financing of terrorism and to enable them to advocate for strong AML/CFT measures in the region,” the release said.

“The event will be declared open by the Honourable Minster of Justice and Attorney General of the Republic of Ghana, while the Director General of GIABA, Dr Abdullahi Shehu and GIABA National Correspondent of Ghana, Mr. Samuel T. Essel will deliver a keynote address and welcoming remark respectively.”

Highlight at the occasion will be road show procession and presentation of lectures by GIABA faculty and regional expert on anti-money laundering and combating of terrorism financing (AML/CFT) regime. 

GIABA is a specialized ECOWAS institution as well as FATF- Style Regional Body established in the year 2000 by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS with the mandate to protect the national economies and the financial systems of member States from the laundering of proceeds of crimes in particular money laundering and terrorist financing.

As part of its sustained efforts to raise awareness against the twin scourges of ML/TF in the region, GIABA in its 2011-2014 Strategic Plan considered the promotion of strategic partnerships with the civil society and development partners of utmost importance especially in the dawn of regional integration with its attendance challenges including curbing transnational organized crimes. Source - The Voice