Takoradi: The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), a non-governmental organisation, has conducted a sensitisation workshop to enhance the capacities of media practitioners and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the Western Region regarding Ghana's legal framework on asset recovery and management.
According to Ghana News Agency, this event was part of GACC's 'Building Political Will and Public Support for Asset Recovery in Ghana' project, funded by the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). The initiative aims to deepen public understanding and strengthen the role of the media and CSOs in promoting asset recovery efforts as part of Ghana's battle against corruption.
Participants received training on Ghana's legal and institutional mechanisms for recovering the proceeds of crime, focusing on the roles of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). Mr. Samuel Harrison-Cudjoe, Programmes Officer at GACC, highlighted the importance of media and CSOs in enhancing citizen participation in anti-corruption efforts, particularly in confiscating assets acquired through corrupt means.
He emphasized the importance of the workshop in equipping media and CSOs to aid in the fight against corruption by promoting accountability and asset recovery. Mr. Harrison-Cudjoe urged participants to engage citizens actively in monitoring the effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions to ensure the enforcement of laws.
Mr. Raphael Asamoah from the FIC detailed the Centre's role in collecting and sharing intelligence on financial irregularities with other anti-corruption agencies. He underscored the importance of asset recovery in combating corruption and money laundering, urging CSOs and the media to enhance public awareness of these efforts.
Similarly, Mr. Leo Anthony Siamah from EOCO's Legal and Prosecution Department emphasized the critical nature of asset recovery in fighting financial crimes and depriving criminals of illicit gains. He encouraged media and CSOs to advocate for stronger asset recovery laws and to hold policymakers accountable.
Workshop participants committed to bolstering political will and public support for asset recovery initiatives to promote good governance in Ghana.
