GIABA, EGDC workshop opens in Accra to court support of women in fighting money laundering

Author: GIABA Network of Journalists

On Tuesday 17th December 2024, as part of measures to intensify awareness against the deleterious effects of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) in the West African region, GIABA, in partnership with the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), opened a 3-day Regional Roundtable Engagement & Workshop For Women On The Impact Of Money Laundering And Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) on the ECOWAS Region at the Alisa Hotels in Accra.

The 3-day workshop, which will climax Thursday 19th December 2024, seeks to raise awareness on the risks faced by women in relation to transnational organized crime, including the impacts of money laundering and terrorism financing.

The workshop has brought together women’s groups, gender advocates and associations, NGOs and civil society organizations from various circles of ECOWAS member countries.

The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) is a specialized institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as Financial Action Task Force –Styled Regional Body (FSRB) responsible for combating the scourge of Money Laundering (ML) and Terrorist Financing (TF) in West Africa.

GIABA was established by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the year 2000 with the mandate to protect the national economies and the financial systems of member States from abuse and the laundering of the proceeds of crimes.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dakoa Newman in a speech read on her behalf stated that Transnational Organized Crime activities are on the rise across West African countries, and these include money laundering, drug trafficking and terrorist financing which poses significant risks to women in our various ECOWAS Member States, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and inequalities that is perpetrated for economic gain.

She noted that the essence of the roundtable forum is critical and timely as it brings together decision makers from ECOWAS Member States and other key stakeholders to foster dialogue and build consensus on integrating women’s perspectives into the fight against transnational economic and financial crime across the ECOWAS Region to further strengthen gender equality and women’s empowerment.