Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has reiterated Ghana’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in the fight against financial crimes, urging West African institutions to evolve in response to new threats. She made the remarks during the opening of the Second Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), held in Accra.
The high-level engagement brought together ministers, legal and financial experts, and regional stakeholders to assess and advance policies against money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing within the ECOWAS region.
In her keynote address, Vice President Opoku-Agyemang lauded GIABA for its continued commitment to ensuring that member states are equipped with systems that meet international standards in the fight against illicit financial flows. She emphasized the urgency for innovative approaches and institutional reforms to keep pace with rapidly evolving security and financial threats.
“I urge this gathering to see this meeting not just as a procedural obligation, but as a moment to reimagine how our regional institutions respond to emerging threats and changing realities,” she said.
Also speaking at the opening, Hon. Lateef Fagbemi, Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, reaffirmed GIABA’s role as a central institution in West Africa’s financial security architecture. He stressed the need for continued collaboration and transparency among ECOWAS member states.
The meeting also marked a significant leadership transition within GIABA. The outgoing Director General, Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., was commended for his years of service, while Hon. Sheku Bangura, Sierra Leone’s Minister for Finance, was welcomed as the new Director General. Both men received accolades for their commitment to the shared goals of the institution.
GIABA, a specialized institution of ECOWAS, continues to play a critical role in assisting member states to adopt and implement strategies to combat money laundering and related financial crimes. As these threats grow in complexity, the Vice President’s call for a renewed vision and deeper cooperation resonates with the need to secure the region’s financial integrity and stability.
