PHOTO: GIABA delegation pose for picture with the Liberian President
As the delegation of the Intergovernmental Action Against Money Laundering in West Africa ends its advocacy mission in Liberia, it has expressed optimism that issues proffered to Liberian President, George M. Weah and other political authorities during their interactions will be timely implemented.
The ECOWAS delegation praised the warm reception received by the Liberian leader, Legislature, Central Bank of Liberia, Ministers of Finance and Justice, most especially the Financial Intelligence Unit of Liberia, when they arrived in Liberia, a press release from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
However, the Director General of GIABA, Justice Kimelabalou Aba , expressed optimism that their advocacy mission to Liberia has the ability for the Liberian government to redouble its effort in the fight against money laundering and countering of terrorist financing.
According to the Head of the specialized ECOWAS group, Liberia is expected to undergo another mutual evaluation to help protect the country’ financial system and the world at large, based on the involvement of every country in corresponding banking or money transfer.
He mentioned that GIABA team of professionals will be deployed to do the mutual assessment in Liberia.
“Liberia Legislature and other political authorities need to muster the courage to pass meaningful legislations, provide logistical and financial support to the Financial Intelligence Unit of Liberia,” Justice Aba recommended.
For his part, the Director General of Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, Modibbo Hamman Tukur , promised to provide capacity development for some staff members of Liberia Financial Intelligence Unit .
According to him, Nigeria is prepared to train Liberia FIU locally and internationally, as Liberia gets ready to seek membership from the International Network of FIUs (Egmont Group) that presently has 170 countries as members.
He also disclosed that Nigeria and Ghana are ready to help Liberia achieves its desire to join other countries to share information against money laundering and countering of terrorist financing.
The regional FIU boss said Nigeria will provide financial support for the software that Liberia FIU will shortly use , in the enhancement of its work for efficiency in the fight against money laundering and countering of terrorist financing.