Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has urged West African leaders to strengthen the region’s collective fight against money laundering, terrorism financing, and weapons proliferation, warning that regional security and sustainable development depend on it.
Addressing the 2nd Extraordinary Meeting of the Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) in Accra, the Vice President underscored the urgent need to enhance regional mechanisms for combating financial crime.
“Your work, often behind the scenes, is of great importance to regional security and sustainable development,” she said. “This is an opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and strengthen how our institutions adapt to emerging threats and expand the frontiers of cooperation.”
GIABA, a Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-style regional body established by ECOWAS, supports member states in implementing global standards against financial crimes. The Vice President lauded GIABA’s role in preventing illicit financial flows—estimated to cost Africa billions annually and often linked to corruption, organized crime, and insurgencies.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang called for a resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking regional framework, stressing that the escalating threats in the Sahel and other parts of West Africa demand urgent, coordinated responses.
“As leaders and stakeholders, our responsibility is to ensure that our regional architecture remains robust, capable of addressing threats across stable and transitional jurisdictions alike,” she said.
Notably, she urged GIABA to engage all ECOWAS countries, including those currently under military transition, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
She emphasized that political instability in these nations often opens governance gaps exploited by illicit actors and thus their inclusion in regional anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism efforts is crucial.
“Let this meeting serve not only as a forum for policy but as a platform for renewed partnership, a partnership that will lead to a more united and resilient West Africa,” she concluded.
Ghana’s hosting of the meeting reflects its continued leadership in regional security and economic governance.
The Vice President’s remarks reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to collective action on financial integrity and counter-terrorism.
Also speaking at the event, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance and Budget, Sheku F. Bangura, who was announced as the new Chairman of the GIABA Ministerial Committee, pledged to steer member states toward consensus and action.
“As I assume this role, I pledge my commitment to advancing GIABA’s vision. I am honoured to guide my colleagues toward strengthening our collective fight against financial crimes,” Bangura said.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
