GIABA COMMENCES 3RD ROUND OF MUTUAL EVALUATION OF ITS MEMBER STATES
The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) has commenced the 3rd round of mutual evaluation of its member States with the on-site visit of the Republic of Ghana from January 26 to February 6, 2026. Ghana is the first country to be evaluated in the 3rd round of GIABA mutual evaluation calendar.
GIABA mutual evaluations are in-depth country reports analysing the implementation and effectiveness of measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. The reports are peer reviews, where members from different countries assess another country. Mutual evaluations provide an in-depth description and analysis of a country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing system, as well as focused recommendations to further strengthen its systems.
GIABA conducts peer reviews of each member on an ongoing basis to assess levels of implementation of the FATF Recommendations, providing an in-depth description and analysis of each country’s system for preventing criminal abuse of the financial system. During a mutual evaluation, the assessed country must demonstrate that it has an effective framework to protect the financial system from abuse.
Dignitaries and top government officials present during the opening ceremony include Ghana’s Deputy Finance Minister, Hon Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Governor, Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, Director-General of GIABA, Mr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., National Security Coordinator, COP Osman Abdul Razak, CEO, FIC, Mr. Albert Kwadwo Twum Boafo, representative from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Coordinating Director for Multilateral and International Organisations, Ambassador Francis Danti Kotia.
The closing ceremony was witnessed by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, CEO of the Ghana Financial Intelligence Centre, Mr. Albert Kwadwo Twum Boafo, 2nd Deputy Governor, Bank of Ghana, Madam Matilda Asante, Deputy Coordinator, National Security Council Secretariat, Mrs. Elizabeth Yankah, and 2nd Deputy Commissioner, Mensah Thompson.
GIABA continues to make significant progress in its work as it relates to its compliance mandate. The conclusion of the on-site is a significant milestone in the chain of the Mutual Evaluation exercise. GIABA congratulates Ghana for submitting to the process.