April 12 2017
The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), a specialized Institution of ECOWAS, has said it is involving religious leaders and faith based organizations in the fight against money laundering and combating financing of terrorism in West Africa. The organization in a statement by its media office, explained that the involvement of religious leaders in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing is to make the campaign more effective and sustainable to the level that it becomes a consistent message with the populace.
GIABA explained that the United Nations has since recognized the role of religious leaders in Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) and promoting the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue and had articulated a Plan of Action on PVE that emphasizes the importance for faith and community leaders to mentor “vulnerable followers so as to enable them to reject violent ideologies” and promote “tolerance, understanding and reconciliation between communities”.