A
three-day regional training on economic and financial crimes investigative
reporting for journalists is underway at the Central Bank of Liberia. The
training is organised by the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money
Laundering in West Africa –GIABA- with support from ECOWAS.
The
convergence brought together more than fifty participants from Ecowas member
States with the aim to train them on how to investigate financial and economic
crimes and money laundering in the region.
Speaking
at the opening ceremony, director general of Liberia’s financial intelligence
unit, Edwin Harris said the training will mark a turning point in the media
landscape, considering the immense exposure of money laundering and terroristic
finance.
He
said the fight against financial crimes cannot be just FIU’s alone, but will
require the support of the media, the entire region and other groupings to make
significant gains.
Mr
Harris said his anticipation is that at the end of the training, participants
will use their new experience to improve their reportage on financial crimes
and money laundering.
Justice
Kimelabalous, Director General of GIABA, said Ecowas heads of state established
GIABA in 2000, in response to the nefarious effects of money laundering on
member States economies and to demonstrate its commitment to the global fight
against money laundering and terroristic financing.
He
added that since its inception, GIABA has also undertaken trainings and carried
out awareness raising activities for state authorities as well as non-state
actors, such as civil society organisation especially the media to deepen their
understanding of laundering and combating the financing of terrorism.
