GIABA trains ECOWAS Journalists on investigative economic, financial crimes
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) has trained Journalists in investigating Economic and Financial Crimes in West African countries in Assinie Côte d ivoire.
Our correspondent reports that GIABA is a specialised institution of the Economic Community of West African States responsible for facilitating the adoption and implementation of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (CFT) in West Africa.
The Western African countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Mr Edward Haris, Director General of GIABA while speaking at the opening ceremony of the three days training on Tuesday in Assinie Cote d Ivoire, said the training would review techniques and methods of investigative journalism on financial and economic crimes.
He explained that GIABA has great intermediaries who are important pillars in the fight we carry out daily towards establishing an environment devoid of money laundering,
“It is justifiably in line with its mandate that GIABA has been conducting sensitization programmes for media practitioners since 2009.
“Indeed, the efforts of all parties have made it possible to welcome 30 journalists from different categories of the media landscape: TV, radio, print media, and online media, who have shown an interest in the fight against financial crimes in the region,” he said.
The D-G, who was represented By Mr Timothy Melaye, Coordinator GIABA Information centre Lagos Nigeria, said GIABA intends to pursue and strengthen its cooperation with stakeholders in the media to adopt collective measures against crimes of all kinds that threaten our Member States.
“As you may know, our sub-region is going through a difficult period with regard to health and security issues.
“Côte d’Ivoire, like the other countries of ECOWAS and the world at large, is suffering from acts of organised and cross-border crimes, particularly drug trafficking, arms trafficking and illegal wildlife trafficking, all of which fuel violence and terrorism,” Haris said
Also speaking, Mr Idrissa Toure, President Côte d Ivoire, Financial Intelligence Unit CI – FIU and president National Correspondent of Cote d’Ivoire appreciate GIABA for initiating training journalists on investigating financial and economic crime in the region.
He said the training would assist the journalists to acquire knowledge on implementation of Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) in West African countries.
Toure noted that Journalists have a responsibility of ensuring good governance and promotion of transparency in the region.
In a remark, Mr Amadou Coulibaly , Côte D’Ivoire Minister of Communication said the Côte D’Ivoire government is committed and put mechanisms in place to fight against financial crime and money laundering in the country.
“Government is working with stakeholders to support the fight to stop the challenges of money laundering and financing terrorism and insecurity,” he said.
He urged Journalists to always do a report that would support government accountability and transparency campaigns in the country.
Mr Coulibaly said GIABA is a great intermediary and pillar in the fight towards establishing an environment devoid of money laundering, but favourable to peacebuilding in West African countries.