Resumen de Prensa
11/07/2007
Expertos en seguidad se reúnen para debatir sobre el blanqueo
de capitales (Myjoyonline.com)
Security experts from five ECOWAS English-speaking countries have
converged in Accra to brainstorm on how to tighten the screw on
regional crime through money laundering.
The seven experts with 17 other participants from The Gambia, Ghana,
Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone are in Accra for the next three
days to draft a National Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Countering
the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) Strategy for ECOWAS English speaking
countries.
Ms Stella Attakpah, Programme Officer, Inter-Governmental Action
Group against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in West Africa
(GIABA), said it was vital that all member states developed effective
AML/CFT strategies in response to the menace of money launderers
who were taking advantage of inadequacies in the system.
Their activities, she noted, were becoming serious threats to the
peace and security of the international community because their
transactions were often across borders in order to disguise the
origin of their monies.
Ms. Attakpah said: “The establishment of GIABA in 2000 by
the Authority of Heads of State and Governments of the ECOWAS is
one of the major responses to deal with this scourge to make sure
that crime does not pay and help commit further crime.”
She said: “This is a practical demonstration of the strong
political commitment of all member states in our region to combat
money laundering and possible terrorist financing.”
She said to build an effective Anti-Money Laundering and Combating
Terrorist Financing regime there was the need for strong government
commitment as well as commitment from the private sector.
Ms. Attakpah said if the region was able to fight organized criminals,
money launderers and terrorist financiers, it would have a sound
financial base that would attract genuine investors and investments
to the region.
Ms. Delphine Schantz, Anti-Money Laundering Adviser, Global Programme
against Money Laundering, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNIODC), said because most organized criminal activities, including
money laundering and terrorist financing were cross-border activities,
effective deterrence, prevention, detection and disruptive measures
were needed to be in place at
all times at the national levels.
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