M&J Prosecutor arrives in Ghana

The prosecutor for the Mabey & Johnson international corruption case which ended in a conviction in the United Kingdom last September, has arrived in Ghana to deliver two public lectures on how to tackle Money Laundering and International Corruption.

While in Ghana, he is scheduled to meet some public officials, as well, notable amongst them is Justice Emile Short, the head of the Commission for Human Rights & Administrative Justice.

There are also plans for him to pay a courtesy call on the Attorney-General.

John Hardy, QC, is a UK-based top barrister and judge, who specialises in extradition, serious crime, money-laundering, human rights and mutual legal assistance cases.

There are concerns within Ghana’s financial sector over how the important prospect of Ghana’s emerging status as the first financial offshore centre on the African continent is being bad-pressed by the OECD and others over concerns of money laundering prospects.

Thus, John Hardy’s lecture on money laundering would seek to deal with this by showing how established financial offshore centres in Europe and elsewhere have dealt with this. His lecture is expected to encourage Ghana to proceed with preparations towards this exciting prospect and to put in place the necessary measures to address the negative opportunities of international corruption and money laundering which every offshore facility faces.

Since taking silk in April 2008, John Hardy QC has been instructed in a number of lengthy and complex fraud prosecutions as well as continuing his criminal practice, particularly in extradition where his expertise spans over 15 years. Mr Hardy has appeared in a number of cases in the House of Lords.

Mr Hardy makes frequent appearances in the Divisional and Administrative Courts representing both foreign governments and defendants in Habeas Corpus and Judicial Review proceedings in extraditions, as well as prosecuting authorities and defendants in domestic Judicial Reviews and cases stated.

He also appears for both prosecution and defence in major criminal trials and has extensive experience in money laundering cases as well as appearing in licensing matters. He is also highly experienced in disciplinary tribunal work (for example the GMC and police discipline cases) and he also has significant expertise in dealing with regulatory offences.

Mr Hardy is also in demand as an expert witness on matters of United Kingdom extradition and criminal law in foreign jurisdictions, as well as being a regular contributor to lectures and seminars around the world.

He has given presentations, lectures, and addresses on a wide variety of subjects, including extradition, constitutional law, and general crime with an emphasis on bribery and corruption, and money-laundering, in (amongst others) the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Spain, and Ukraine.

The theme of the first lecture is: *“PROTECTING GHANA AND GHANA’S EMERGING FINANCIAL OFFSHORE CENTRE STATUS FROM MONEY LAUNDERING”. *

Venue: *BRITISH COUNCIL on TUESDAY, MARCH 9, at 9.30AM.*

It will be chaired by renowned criminologist and the Executive Secretary of Justice & Human Rights Institute, Prof. Ken Agyemang Attafuah.

Ms Christine Addo, who is responsible for Barclay’s Offshore Project in Ghana, will give a short presentation on preparations on Ghana’s preparation towards the establishment of offshore banking facilities.

Mr Samuel Essel, Head of the Financial Intelligence Centre of the Bank of Ghana, will also tell the audience about the regulatory measures being taking by the central bank to deal with the problem of money laundering, especially since the passing of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2008.

Andy Akoto, a partner of KPMG, will also look at the implementation and enforcement mechanisms of anti-money laundering regulations, vis-à-vis the prospects of Ghana as a tax haven.

Yofi Grant of Databank, and a fellow of Danquah Institute, will also make some remarks on the advantages of offshore banking for Ghana.

The theme of the second lecture is: *“INTERNATIONAL CORRUPTION – HOW GHANA CAN COLLABORATE WITH UK AND OTHERS TO BEAT IT”.*

Venue: *K A BUSIA HALL, UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON, on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10 at 5.00PM*

*(Please take note of the change in time from the previously announced 3.30pm to the new time of 5.00pm).*

Also to speak on day two is *Prof. Ken Agyemang Attafuah*, on a related topic: *'The INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS OF CORRUPTION. *

The second day lectures will be chaired by Prof. Nii-Ashei Kotei, of the Faculty of Law.

The first lecture, which is on MONEY LAUNDERING, is targeting players in the financial sector, legislatures, policy makers, lawyers, judges, trade unions, and anti-corruption crusaders, among others. The second lecture will focus on how Ghana can tackle the menace of INTERNATIONAL CORRUPTION brought on through unholy collaborations between public officials and multinational companies.

The lectures are opportune in light of stated efforts by the new government to tackle corruption as have been apparent in various investigations undertaken in contracts signed by the previous government, such as Vodafone and Kosmos/EO Group. The Commission of Human Rights & Administrative Justice is holding its first public hearing on a case involving international corruption on March 15. The first lecture will, therefore, look at international corruption, with particular focus on multinational companies and how they connive with local officials on corruption. It will also look at international efforts to tackle it.

The lectures are also timely because Ghana is in line to become an offshore financial centre which comes with enormous investment opportunities but may also make Ghana more vulnerable to money laundering, although, money laundering happens in almost every country in the world.

In January, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) openly warned Ghana against going ahead with its planned status as a tax haven. Over the past four years, Ghana has been working on becoming an offshore financial centre the first country to offer such banking facility on mainland Africa.

The second lecture will seek to discuss the general global criminal activity of money laundering and how legislation, regulations, vigilance and enforcement may be strengthened to tackle this activity.

The lectures are organised by the Danquah Institute, in conjunction with the Law Faculty, University of Ghana, the Justice & Human Rights Institute and DI’s media partners. * *

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*PRESENTS*

*Date: *Tuesday, 9th March 2010

*Venue*: British Council Conference Room

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*Theme*: Protecting Ghana’s Emerging Financial Offshore Centre Status from money laundering

*Time*: 9:30am

*Date: *Wednesday, 10th March 2010

*Venue*: K. A Busia Hall, University of Ghana

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*Theme*: International Corruption – How Ghana Can Collaborate with UK and Others to beat it

*Time*: 5:00pm

*Main Speaker: John Hardy QC*

*International Criminal Law Expert* *LECTURES ON INTERNATIONAL CORRUPTION AND MONEY LAUNDERING *

*OBJECTIVE*

The objective of the first lecture is to educate the financial sector, the business community, members of the legal profession, policy makers, students, the general public and the international community about the prospect of Ghana’s offshore status and measures that need to be taken to safeguard this new and exciting national status against money laundering. The objective of the second lecture is to contribute to the efforts of Government and the nation, at large, against the challenges of international corruption and its retarding role on national development. In addition to these lectures, we seek to embark on public education, by creating awareness and interest on the subject offshore banking in Ghana through a series of radio, television interviews, discussions and newspaper publications.

*INVITED GUESTS*

Members of the Executive, Members of Parliament, bankers, lawyers, judges, academics, students, civil society groups, journalists, trade unionists, representatives from the Serious Fraud Office, Criminal Investigations Department, and The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice.

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