GIABA sensitizes ECOWAS journalists on money laundering in Gambia

FROM: WILLIAM NANA YAW BEEKO, BANJUL, GAMBIA

The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) will hold a sensitization seminar on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (CFT) for journalists from English-speaking countries of West Africa between Thursday 28 June and Friday 29 June, 2012 in Banjul, The Gambia.

The objectives of the seminar are to (i) expose journalists to the knowledge of AML/CFT framework; (ii) to assist participants to produce reports and articles/features of quality on AML/CFT issues; and (iii) improve the network of journalists who will assist GIABA in disseminating information on the AML/CFT systems in West Africa.

Specifically, the seminar is to build strong alliance with the media for effective dissemination of AML/CFT messages and to improve the network among journalists in promoting the implementation of effective AML/CFT regimes in the region.

The 2-day seminar targeted at economic and financial issues reporters from Anglophone ECOWAS Member States is the 5th edition of such training seminar on AML/CFT for media practitioners from ECOWAS Countries.

The decision to strengthen the capacity of media professionals in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing is justified by the fact that the media are an efficient means to reach a wide audience about the deleterious effects of money laundering and terrorist financing.

The training will be facilitated by experienced and highly competent media experts on AML/CFT, including GIABA faculty through plenary sessions, case studies, experience-sharing and syndicate group sessions.

At the end of the seminar, it is expected that there would be an improvement in the implementation of effective AML/CFT measures in member States and better reporting on economic and financial crimes related matters.

GIABA is a specialized institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as Financial Action Task Force –Styled Regional Body (FSRB) responsible for combating the scourge of Money Laundering (ML) and Terrorist Financing (TF) in West Africa.

It was established by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the year 2000 with the mandate to protect the national economies and the financial systems of member States from abuse and the laundering of the proceeds of crimes.