Financial Intelligence Units Workshop opens

Accra, May 7, GNA - Mr. Francis Poku, Minister of National Security, on Monday lauded the non-partisan approach in which efforts were being made to promulgate a law to tackle the issue of money laundering and its threats to the national economy.

Addressing the opening of a five-day training programme for Financial Intelligence Units (FIU) in English-Speaking countries in West Africa, Mr Poku said the scrutiny of various provisions of the Bill had been done on non-partisan considerations with the desire for the success of any future legislation.

He reiterated the commitment of Government to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill and said Cabinet had already approved the bill, which is currently before a parliamentary sub-committee.

Thirteen countries in West Africa currently have Anti-Money Laundering Law. Ghana and Togo are however yet to do so.

The workshop was organized by the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), the specialized institution of ECOWAS responsible for the prevention and control of money laundering and terrorism financing in the region, with support from the Commonwealth Secretariat.

It is to assist countries in the implementation of comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering frameworks by building capacity of officials tasked in building the FIU and in countries that they existed to provide training on the effective functioning of these units.

To be able to achieve its objectives, Mr Poku said, Financial Intelligence Centres must not be seen to be engaged in a war with other law-enforcement agencies, which performed similar duties.

Rather, he said, the Units focus must be on the control of money laundering by criminal gangs who use such laundered funds to sustain their industry.

While carrying out their task of pursuing wrong-doers, the FIU's must also protect the constitutional rights of citizens to privacy. Mr Poku said this required that the Units developed structures to manage confidential information that they receive in the course of their functions.

"There is the need therefore to consider carefully the issue of the appointment of appropriate personnel who have been trained to manage confidential information and have sworn an oath of secrecy," he stressed.

Dr Abdullahi Shehu, Director General, GIABA, said the weak economies of most African countries made them vulnerable targets for money laundering and terrorist financing.

Besides, the weak criminal justice system made it difficult to bring perpetrators to justice and the secrecy of transaction in the financial system makes most of such institutions conduit for proceeds of crime.

Dr. Shehu said the thrust of the overall regional effort to combat money laundering and terrorist financing was based on the understanding that those activities were harmful to the society and combating them enhanced chances of attracting foreign investment and promoting international security.