The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), is set to welcome about 40 journalists from across 15 ECOWAS member States to Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, for a regional training workshop on investigating economic and financial crimes.
The three-day training scheduled between September 22-24, has participants from both print, electronic and online media and seeks to strengthen their capacities in investigative reporting, particularly on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).
It also aims to build a stronger partnership between the media and GIABA for wider and effective dissemination of information on AML/ CFT issues and encourage journalists to pursue in-depth investigations into Money Laundering (ML) and Terrorist Financing (TF) activities within their countries.
In a press release issued by GIABA, it acknowledged journalists as key players in fighting economic and financial crimes, as they often determined the level of prominence that could be given to stories on ML/TF, therefore the training would empower participants to be proactive in exposing these corrupt practices.
It said the training followed earlier efforts by GIABA to engage the media, including the creation of the Regional Network of Journalists on Economic and Financial Crimes in 2010 in Sierra Leone. GIABA noted that expanding the fight against financial crime beyond law enforcement agencies to include the media was vital for regional stability, transparency and accountability.
The release said the training would feature plenary sessions, case studies, group exercises and role plays led by AML/CFT experts and practitioners. The initiative is relevant in equipping the media to effectively serve as watchdogs against ML/TF in West Africa.
GIABA is a West African regional body established in December 2000, by the authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, as a specialised institution in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.
Headquartered in Senegal, GIABA among other roles, functions as a Financial Action Task Force Styled (FATF-Styled) Regional Body, working with other partners to strengthen the capacities of member states, to implement international AML/CFT standards by monitoring compliance, facilitating cooperation, and providing technical assistance.
GNA
