Building A Governance System That Places Rule Of Law Over Profit And Ill-Gotten Wealth
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
UNIFICATION City, Margibi County, Liberia–The Director General of GIABA, Edwin Harris has called members states of West Africa to strengthen and deeper cooperation in fighting transnational crimes in the Region.
GIABA Inter-Governmental Group Against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.
Mr. Harris made the call during the 25th anniversary celebration of GIABA, which coincided with the 44th GIBA Plenary and Technical Commission that has been taking place at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County, outside the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
According to Mr. Harris, the forum reminds them on how far the regional grouping has come in working to prevent transnational crimes such as money laundering, terrorists financing, corruption, illicit drug trafficking, and other forms of transnational crimes that undermine shared prosperity and stability
He said efforts are being made to having a financial system in the West African region that is known for its integrity as the pillar of its strength, a governance system that places the rule of law over profit and the acquisition of ill-gotten wealth.
GIABA is also partnering with regional countries to build economy system that does not only benefit a selected few while the vast majority wallop in abject poverty with no assurance and hope for the future, overall, adding that GIABA has covered a distance to securing regional peace and security.
The GIABA Director General indicated that All the above has happened over the last 25 years when the Heads of Authorities established GIABA to protect the economy of West Africa from the scourges of money laundering and terrorist financing and other forms of transnational crimes that erode the integrity of our financial system.
“As GIABA reflects over the last 25 years, it is important to also recognize the support of all our technical and financial partners who have come this far with us and with the cooperation of their unwavering support and continuous presence we have move to the next chapter in our fight against transnational crimes not only in our region but the world at large,” said the GIABA boss.
He furthered explained that as the ECOWAS Specialized Institution mandated to protect the integrity of the region’s financial systems, GIABA will remain at the forefront of efforts in addressing these evolving threats.
Mr. Harris pointed out that through effective coordination, capacity building, and mutual evaluations, we will continue to assist member states in strengthening their institutional frameworks, developing risk-based approaches, and ensuring alignment with international AML/CFT standards.
Giving his overview at the 44th GIABA plenary and Technical Commission meeting, Mr. Harris said, When he took over the leadership of GIABA in August 2022, three of our members namely Mali, Burkina Faso and Senegal were on the FATF Grey list while Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire were included in 2023. It is important at this juncture to acknowledge the remarkable progress of GIABA Member States under the FATF International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) process.
He expressed the hope that with determination and strong political will from these countries, GIABA was able to work with them over the period providing technical support and financial support to some of the countries in the implementation of their action plans.
“At this juncture, I am pleased to report that all our Members on the FATF grey list have been removed with the exception of Cote d’ Ivoire that is well advanced in the implementation of its action plan.”
The GIABA Director General gave special thanks and congratulation to the Authorities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Burkina Faso for the demonstration of strong political will that saw their exit from the FATF Grey list during the last FATF Plenary in October 2025.
Since the end of the Effectiveness Program, GIABA is sad to have continued to demonstrate effectiveness in multiple areas that have seen attraction by many.
“Under the Guest Membership Initiative, for the second time in a roll another GIABA member is now seated as a guest member at the FATF, this time it is the Federal Republic of Nigeria the first being the Republic of Senegal,” Mr. Harris added.