The 29th Ministerial Committee Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) concluded in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with Liberia represented by a distinguished delegation.
The delegation included Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Minister of Justice and Attorney General; Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning; Cllr. Samuel Kofi Woods, National Security Advisor to the President; and Hon. Mohammed Nasser, Acting Director of the Financial Intelligence Agency.
The high-level meeting, held at the New Brookfields Hotel on November 23, 2024, was graced by the President of Sierra Leone, Brig. Gen. (Retired) Julius Maada Bio who reaffirmed his country’s commitment to tackle financial crimes, including money laundering and terrorist financing.
In his remarks, GIABA Director General Edwin W. Harris Jr. presented a regional report highlighting progress in combating financial crimes while emphasizing the need for intensified efforts. “This meeting is a call to action, not just talk,” Harris stated, commending the organization’s training initiatives, which have supported six member states in addressing money laundering and terrorist financing.
President Bio officially opened the conference, urging collective action against transnational financial crimes. He stressed the importance of translating technical recommendations into concrete national and regional strategies and noted the critical role of collaboration in safeguarding the region’s economic system.
The 29th GIABA Ministerial Committee Meeting convened top officials from across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including Justice, Finance, and national security experts, to discuss compliance with international standards for Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Financing of Terrorism (CFT), and Proliferation Financing (PF).
GIABA, an ECOWAS institution, promotes robust mechanisms to counter financial crimes and ensure the integrity of the region’s economic system.
