The Director-General of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Liberia (FIU), Edwin W. Harris, has welcomed the advanced training that focuses on risk assessment on proliferation financing of weapons of mass destruction for Liberian stakeholders who are passionate to combat financial crimes.
Making a remark at the start of the workshop on Monday, December 13, 2021, Mr. Harris accentuated that the workshop could sharpen the participants’ skills and enhance their knowledge regarding the fight against financial crimes, terrorism, and other terroristic acts that could cause havoc and destabilize Liberia and some regions in the world at large.
“It is against this background, FIU and other Liberian competent authorities extend unqualified thanks and appreciation to GIABA for extending this important training to Liberia. On behalf of the interim head of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC), Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Jr, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Liberia welcomes GIABA secretariat and appreciates continuous training,” he noted.
Mr. Harris continues ” as we anticipate Liberia’s second round of mutual evaluation next year, I want to call on all stakeholders to support and work with the FIU for the preparation, instead of undermining the process of full compliance in Liberia.”
“Major stakeholders need to take leadership role along with the FIU to ensure that Liberia gets a positive rating after the second mutual evaluation next year. There is only one national working group for the mutual evaluation which is headed or supervised by Attorney Marc N. Kollie, Manager for Legal and Analysis of the FIU.”
The FIU Director-General frowns at reports of some stakeholders allegedly setting up a de facto team, instead of working with the national team, which portrays a lack of knowledge and a calculated ploy to undermine the national progress, which is untimely and unacceptable.
“The FIU over the last six months has spent its resources meant for operation in preparing Liberia for its mutual evaluation. The policy, strategy, and action plan to address the risks identified in the National Risk Assessment Report (NRA) have been validated by all stakeholders and it is expected to be launched in January 2022 to serve as a working tool for Liberia over the next three years.”
The FIU boss added: ” also the House of Representatives of the 54th Legislature recently passed into law the Financial Intelligence Agency Act of 2021 and the Money laundering, Terrorist Financing, Preventive Measures and Proceeds of Crimes Act of 2021.” In the same vein, we are hopeful that the Liberian Senate will speedily concur with the House of Representatives, as FIU and other stakeholders await the fast approach onsite visit by GIABA’s accessors next year.
Also speaking, Lansana Daboh, GIABA Research Officer elaborated that domestic control of proliferation financing can be easily achieved by the passage of laws by the Legislature to serve as a deterrent to would-be perpetrators.
According to the Inter-governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) Executive, Liberia needs to identify possible risks of proliferation financing to put in tougher measures to prevent illicit financial acts.
He mentioned that the ongoing workshop organized by GIABA highlights risk, compliance requirements, and implications for targeted financial sanctions.