The GIABA 42nd Technical Commission and Plenary of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) was held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from November 17-23, 2024. Sierra Leone's hosting of the event highlights its commitment to strengthening financial security and transparency in West Africa. It has been 15 years since the country last hosted such a conference, underlining its growing leadership role in regional financial governance.
Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA)
The Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) of Sierra Leone played a pivotal role in hosting the 42nd GIABA Technical Commission and Plenary in Freetown. The FIA, under the leadership of its Director General, David Borbor, was instrumental in organizing the logistics, coordinating with regional and international stakeholders, and setting the stage for critical discussions on combating financial crimes across West Africa.
Demonstrating Sierra Leone's Advancements
By hosting the event, the FIA demonstrated Sierra Leone's advancements in regulatory systems and compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, reaffirming the nation's commitment to global efforts against financial crimes.
The Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) of Sierra Leone is a central body tasked with combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes.
The FIA worked extensively to ensure the smooth organization of the week-long event at the New Brookfields Hotel. This involved facilitating the participation of over 200 delegates from 16 member countries, as well as international partners. The FIA emphasized Sierra Leone's dedication to fostering secure financial systems, reflecting the country's progress in anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) efforts. Hosting the plenary showcased Sierra Leone's commitment to regional collaboration and adherence to international financial crime standards.