The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering, in West Africa, (GIABA), in collaboration with the European Union, (EU), technical experts currently in Banjul staging their 6th meeting on steering Regional Committee Conference.
The meeting kicked- off on 14th November, 2018 at a local Hotel in Senegambia, brought together regional experts from all GIABA member countries in West Africa in collaboration with the EU technical experts to discuss issues and challenges facing the implementation of the EU Anti- Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Funded Project under GIABA called the ‘Strengthening Anti -Money Laundering in West Africa’ (SAMWA).
The 6th Steering Committee of the GIABA-EU SAMWA project is expected to be the final activity of the discussion of the implementation of the project among member states.
In his opening remarks, the Director General of GIABA, Mr Justice Kimelabalou Aba noted that the SAMWA project has already made significant contribution to the knowledge based on professionals and relevant stakeholders in the regions.
He noted that despite all effort going on in building the capacity of stakeholders in the regions, there are huge financial needs to correct the residual weaknesses in the number of States’ AML/CFT regimes.
He further calls for more efforts and resources to ensure adequate compliance with the FATF 40 recommendations and UN Security Council Resolution in the framework of the on-going Second Round of the Mutual Evaluation.
He concluded that in the life pan of the project, particularly, within the semester under review; many projects activities have been implemented.
Author: Amadou Bah
