Re: Ghana risks being blacklisted over anti-money laundering policy
We write to reject your erroneous publication on the ghanabusinessnews.com media portal “Ghana risks being blacklisted over anti-money laundering policy” on March 21, 2017 by Pamela Ofori-Boateng.
Your article implied Ghana was at risk of being blacklisted because of failures in combating money laundering within its borders.
The International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (Volumes 1 & 2) published in March 2017 by the United States Department of State DID NOT assert Ghana was at risk of being blacklisted. The report found that Ghana’s AML laws are largely compliant with international standards, although these laws are not often applied.
The fourth (4th) paragraph of your publication which reads, “This development among others puts Ghana at risk of being blacklisted in the West African sub-region…financial crimes in the country” is therefore erroneous, misleading and a false conclusion.
We wish to inform you that Ghana is the leading member state of GIABA and has achieved significant progress in combating money laundering and terrorist financing in the West African sub-region. Ghana is the first country in West Africa to conduct National Risk Assessment (NRA), and again the first country to be subjected to the second round of Mutual Evaluation. Ghana will thus not allow its hard won reputation to be tarnished by such publication.
We therefore demand immediate retraction of the said article and the subsequent publication of a rejoinder for two (2) consecutive weeks, failing which we shall resort to appropriate action.
Yours faithfully,
S. T. Essel,
Chief Executive Officer,
Financial Intelligence Centre,
Ghana
Editor’s Note: This rejoinder has been published unedited.