A three (3) day Regional Training Workshop on Investigative Reporting on Economic and Financial Crimes for Journalists in West Africa countries commenced in Monrovia, Liberia. The training, which is expected to come to an end on Thursday 28th November 2019, is organized by the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). The Deputy Minister of Fiscal Affairs/Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Samara P.Z. Wolokolie, on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, gave the keynote address and formally declared the training opened.

In his opening statement, Hon. Wolokolie said as the lead Inter-Government Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, plays a significant role in maintaining a well-functioning monetary system. With the prevalence of money laundering activities across the global financial and monetary systems - the strategic importance of GIABA cannot be overemphasized. The creation of GIABA through the sagacity of West African leaders is a clear indication yet that West Africa is ready for business and is prepared to play by the rules in its financial and monetary dealings.

Our commitment to eradicating illicit trade, dubious financial transactions, and discourage money laundering activities demonstrates that West Africa is ready to play by the rules, committed to expose and prosecute fraudulent activities.

Institutions such as GIABA give confidence to the business community and our international partners that there are structures and safeguards to protect them against money laundering and fraudulent activities.

The training organized to improving experienced journalists' understanding of AML/CFT issues, enhance their investigative and technical capabilities by equipping them with practical tools for the production of quality articles and reporting on money laundering and terrorist financing cases. It also strengthens the capacity of the network of Journalists to produce factual information on AML/CFT developments in West Africa.

To achieve the stated objectives, pertinent themes selected and delivered by prominent experts - Effective techniques and methods of producing journalistic materials on financial and economic crimes, the role of the media in promoting good governance as well as strategies, and mechanisms for setting up networks of media actors in AML/CFT. In implementing its intervention strategy, GIABA has enhanced and expanded the stakeholder scope to non-traditional entities, to ensure a global and complementary approach to the fight.

One of the entities includes the media, which plays a paramount role in promoting good governance, drawing governments` sustained attention to value for money in expending public resources, enhancing the protection of citizens' rights, and guaranteeing the production of information on Money Laundering practices and other related offenses.

In line with its mandate, GIABA has been carrying out awareness-raising programs for media professionals since 2009, resulting in the establishment in 2010 in Abuja, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, of a regional network of investigative journalists, specialized in reporting economic and financial crimes.

The 2016-2020 Strategic Plan developed by GIABA against the backdrop of the ever-evolving global AML/CFT outlook following the revision of the FATF Standards and Methodology focuses on the obligation to make regional AML/CFT interventions more effective. It aims at contributing to Member States` AML/CFT efforts, strengthen the commitment of non-state actors and critical sectors playing crucial roles in the effective implementation of AML/CFT measures.

Hon. Edwin W. Harrison, Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in Liberia, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, extends his appreciation to the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) for selecting Liberia to host this training. He pointed out the three (3) days training in our media landscapes immense exposure about ML/TF. This training will help participants in effective, accurate reporting, and equipped to spot the vices associated with these and other predicate offenses.

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