The Director General of the ECOWAS Inter -Governmental Group against Money laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Dr. Abdullahi Shehu has commended the government and people of Sierra Leone for the high ranking of its bench marks in the continuous GIABA Assessment.
“GIABA remains very impressed as Sierra Leone has in recent years shown commitment, dedication to duty, standards and has been a symbol of hope and example to not only the region but even beyond,” Dr. Shehu stated.
The GIABA Boss who ends his tour of duty in October this year, made this comment over the weekend during a courtesy call on the Ambassador of Sierra Leone to Senegal, Madam Khadijatu Bassir at her office in central Dakar to bid farewell after his tenure of office.
Dr. Abdullahi Y. Shehu thanked the government of Sierra Leone through Ambassador Bassir for all the government has done with regards the implementation of the aspects of procedure for Sierra Leone to meet its bench marks under the AML/CFT programs in the country. He particularly thanked President Ernest Koroma for keeping his promise in ensuring that the AML act was passed in parliament and also for the appointment of the Director of Financial Unit housed within the central Bank of Sierra Leone.
Speaking further the outgoing Director informed AMB Bassir that GIABA’s evaluation of the Bench Marks were very satisfactory. Such he noted would go a long way in ensuring that activities to contain money laundering and Anti Terrorism activities would be tackled in Sierra Leone.
He recalled that GIABA has given Technical Assistance to 13 countries in West Africa including Sierra Leone and that Sierra Leone has also benefitted in training, especially in the recent GIABA paid for five judges to a workshop in Ghana for investigators. “GIABA is further ready to extend help in capacity building” he informed.
According, to Dr. Shehu equipment for the FIU Unit has been ordered to put the office in a proper fitting. He pointed out the implementation of the United Nations Security Council’s resolution on the AML and expressed the hope that our government will take up the challenge to same implement them accordingly.
Replying, AMB Bassir expressed the sorry of parting, taking into account all that the outgoing Director and his team has accomplished during his tenure of office for West Africa and even beyond. She commended him for dealing with especially conflicting issues that he has handled with diligent and professionalism. She promised to work together with government to ensure that the country meet its BENCH MARKS.
“Though you are going away but deep memories of you will always stay behind” she said. AMB Bassir promised to continue working with the new Director in the interest of GIABA.
Dr. Abdullahi Shehu’s tour of duty ends in October after serving as Director General for seven years. The new Director General will be coming from La Cote d’ Ivoire.
August 13, 2013
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