Deputy Minister of Interior, Henry Quartey, has challenged ECOWAS member states to foster strength and capacities together in fighting organised crime within the ECOWAS sub-region.
And that the building of synergies is very pivotal in clumping down on these syndicates and either eliminate and reduce the grave effects of their actions on counties economies and in sometimes leading to the loss of life.
“Whilst state institutions do their part to curb this canker, it behooves on eminent and noble personalities in society to come on board and play their part in this fight. The building of synergies as well as strengthening of capacities in this regard is important and integral in the fight.”
Speaking at a national sensitization seminar for high-level religious leaders and institutions on anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism, Henry Quartey bemoaned the sophisticated transitional organised crime syndicates perpetuating crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, money laundering and the likes.
According to him, the surge in acts of terrorism and other organised crime within the Sub-Region can be contributed to the availability of funds to these unscrupulous people, which is mostly laundering money.
The Ayawaso Central MP, commended the leadership of ECOWAS and particularly the Inter-Governmental Action Group (GIABA) and the Finance Action Task Force Regional Body for staging seminar.
In complementing the Deputy Minister’s profound statement, Director General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Justice Kimelabalou ABA, noted that the nefarious activities have been on the rise since early 90s.
Its consequences he mentioned are weakening of the social and human capital which is also a major challenge to a sustainable development and a serious threat of the social and political stability of the involved states, thus causing an artificial increase in the cost of production of goods.
At the end, it causes national and foreign investors to shun the countries involved.
Originally, GIABA’s mission is to ensure the implementation of Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Financing of Terrorism AML/CFT standards in compliance with acceptable international standards and practices.
And also organize self-evaluations and mutual evaluations to measure the efficiency of the measures taken as well as their compliance with acceptable international standards.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com |Delali Q Kukey |
