ACCRA, GHANA – Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr., Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism, has reaffirmed the regional parliament’s unwavering support for the West African anti-financial crimes body, GIABA, while calling for the urgent inclusion of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) into the institution’s framework.
Delivering a goodwill message at the opening of the Extraordinary Meeting of the GIABA Ministerial Committee held in Accra on Saturday, July 19, 2025, Senator Snowe emphasized that the regional community must not permit institutional loopholes that could be exploited by criminals involved in money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit financial flows.
He praised GIABA for its consistent technical excellence and leadership in defending the economic integrity and security of the ECOWAS region. “These are not abstract threats; they are serious challenges to the stability of the region and the prosperity of our peoples,” Snowe said, commending GIABA’s Director General Edwin W. Harris Jr. and his team for their professionalism and vigilance.
Highlighting the ongoing security and governance challenges confronting the region, Snowe said the meeting comes at a crucial time when cooperation and solidarity are needed more than ever. He underscored that the proposed inclusion of AES countries into GIABA is not a matter of politics but an “operational imperative” to ensure regional safety and prevent the emergence of unregulated safe havens for illicit activities.
He stated that excluding AES member states from GIABA’s technical oversight poses a risk that threatens the cohesion and integrity of West Africa’s anti-money laundering architecture. “It opens a pathway for ensuring that the ideals of ECOWAS, peace, solidarity, development, and integration, remain inclusive and forward looking, even in times of political divergence,” he noted.
Snowe also acknowledged the smooth leadership transition from Nigeria to Sierra Leone within GIABA, praising both countries for their respective roles in advancing regional cooperation.
Concluding his remarks, Snowe commended Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang of Ghana and all attending ministers and security chiefs for their presence, describing their participation as a demonstration of the region’s collective resolve to tackle financial crimes with unity and determination.
The ECOWAS Parliament, he affirmed, remains committed to supporting GIABA and promoting policies that advance transparency, accountability, and good governance across West Africa.
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