Veep Calls For Concerted Efforts To Combat Economic Crimes

THE Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur has called for concerted efforts by countries in the West African sub-region to combat all forms of economic crimes which threatened their societies. He emphasised the need for institutions committed to the fighting of economic crimes in the sub region to join forces in fighting the menace which was bleeding the economies of member countries. Mr. Amissah-Arthur made these remarks when a joint delegation of Financial Intelligence Centre and GIABA, organisation committed to fighting economic and financial crimes called on him at the Flagstaff House on Friday. According to the Vice-President, no country in the sub-region can go it alone in fighting economic crimes and succeed due to the sophistication it had assumed. He said the sophistication that economic crimes had undergone over the years demanded that institutions in member countries share vital information towards its eradication. "There is the need for more robust efforts by institutions committed to fighting economic crimes to share experiences to avert the menace," he said. Mr. Amissah-Arthur said the government was aware of the constraints militating against Financial Intelligent Centre and was in the process of providing them with the needed logistics to enhance their activities. The head of the Financial Intelligence Centre, Mr Sam Essel expressed the determination of his outfit to fight economic and financial crimes in all their manifestation in the country. He however called for the support of the various stakeholders in the Ghanaian society to lend concrete assistance to shore up its activities. " We are also in constant touch with other sister organisations in the sub-region to share information related to economic crime and other forms of financial malfeasance," Mr Essel said. GIABA Director General Adama Coulibally reitetated the commitment of his organisation to support governments in the sub-region to fight economic and financial crimes.