Africa-Press – Liberia. The Executive Director of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Edwin Harris, has called for effective coordination, capacity building, and mutual evaluation as key components of combating money laundering and financial crimes across Africa.
Addressing the opening of the 44th plenary session of GIABA, held at the Farmington Hotel, Harris, pledged GIABA commitments to assisting member states in strengthening institutional frameworks, developing risk-based approaches, and ensuring alignment with international AML/CFT standards, as frantic efforts to address money laundering, terrorist financing, and crimes across the region.
Harris assures GIABA of commitments to securing regional peace and security, reflecting on the institution’s 25 years of experience at the forefront of efforts to address these evolving threats.
He commended member states for the significant reforms undertaken to enhance compliance and effectiveness as part of their preparation for the ongoing third round of mutual evaluation.
“We look forward to Member States deepening domestic cooperation and inter-agency exchange of information, knowledge, and skills as one means of having a strong, coordinated national front,” Harris said.
For his part, President Joseph Boakai highlights Liberia’s efforts to strengthen the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
The Liberian leader mentioned actions taken by his administration, including a legislative approach, stronger enforcement mechanisms, coordination among agencies, and an intensified response to drug-related activities affecting communities, among others, as part of strengthening Liberia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.
He stressed the role of the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) in Liberia’s reform efforts, noting that the agency continues to receive support to ensure it operates with the needed independence, resources, and technical capacity.
For his part, Mohammed Nasser, national correspondent and director general of the Financial Intelligence Agency of Liberia, describes the 44th GIABA plenary session as essential to reforms and tackling money laundering.
He describes the engagements as invaluable, providing insight, guidance, and peer support.
Meanwhile, the summit brings together representatives from member states to evaluate regional efforts and strengthen technical measures against money laundering and terrorist financing.
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