The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and other key stakeholders in the banking, insurance, extractive, gaming and other sectors are currently brainstorming on the development of a National Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT) Policy and Action Plan to enhance the protection of Liberia’s financial system.
Speaking at the start of a two-day National Validation Engagement workshop on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, the FIU Director General, Edwin Harris, explained that the development of a National AML/CFT Policy is important to enhancing the full implementation of threats and vulnerabilities identified in the recently released National Risk Assessment Report (NRA), which has put Liberia on par with other countries in the world.
According to him, mitigation methods are put into place to find workable solutions to some of the challenges that are hindering the fight against money laundering and countering terrorist financing regulations.
He mentioned that the validation of the current AML/ CFT Policy and Action Plan is everybody’s business and, as such, the policy is expected to be released to the public and presented to the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. before the end of this year.
Harris said the Minister chairs the National Steering Committee, which is focused on restoring Liberia’s image by robustly combating money laundering and other financial crimes.
“Every actor in all sectors should be in full readiness to adhere to national compliance against AML/ CFT regulations,” he intoned.
Also speaking at the validation exercise, the Lead Facilitator and Consultant, Emil Meddy, elaborated that the validation of the policy has the ability to promote the exchange of intelligence to support investigations about AML/CFT cases and strengthen feedback mechanism to enhance information sharing among every stakeholder in Liberia and outside
According to the Ghana Financial Intelligence Center executive, deepening understanding of money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) risks among competent authorities and the promotion of awareness among stakeholders cannot be overemphasized.
He mentioned that facilitating the reporting of AML/ CFT report by actors in various sectors should not be ignored and measures to promote financial inclusion should also be prioritized.
“Adequate measures to facilitate the process of customer due process or Know Your Customers (KYC) in fulfillment of compliance and passage of new AML/CFT regulations, coupled with prohibiting the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, should draw the concern of actors in the public and private sectors in Liberia,” he noted.
Meddy also renewed repeated calls to stop terrorist groups from having access to finance and logistics, noting that the passage of the Whistleblower Act and subsequent implementation are positive steps to combat money laundering and other financial crimes.
“NGOs are allegedly noted for facilitating money laundering and other financial crimes. This claim has drawn the attention of all financial crimes prevention entities in all parts of the world,” the Ghanaian Financial Intelligence Center executive pointed out.
He further proposed that accountants, lawyers and dealers of gold, diamond and other precious stones need to file regular Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) and develop guidelines for the implementation of targeted financial sanctions related to the proliferation of financing of deadly financial acts.