EU Snubs Nigeria, Delists Ghana From Terrorist Financing Countries

…. Ghana To Start Manufacturing Covid-19 Vaccines

The global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog of the European Commission, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has resolved to remove Ghana from the list of countries that are deficient in Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing by June.

In its Consolidated assessment ratings last updated on May 19, our correspondent observed that Nigeria was not listed as part of the countries making efforts to fight money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The rating provided an up-to-date overview of how countries are effective in the fight against terrorism financing.

But according to a statement by Ghana’s Ag. Director of Communications Office of the President, Eugene Arhin, the EU watchdog noted Ghana’s progress.

“As a consequence of the two-day working visit by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to Brussels, Belgium, from the 19th to 20th May, the European Commission has announced the decision to remove Ghana from the list of countries that are deficient in Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.

“At a meeting between President Akufo-Addo and the President of the European Council, His Excellency Charles Michel, as well as at the European Commission, the European Union acknowledged the efforts Ghana has made in implementing the action plan of the International Country Risk Guide (ICRG) in record time.

“The Commission, thus, congratulated Ghana for the reforms embarked on, as well as the sustainable, robust systems deployed towards being taken off the list.

“It is expected that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog, will, in June 2021, announce that Ghana has been taken off its list of high risk, third-world countries with strategic deficiencies in Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Terrorism Financing,” the statement partly read.

Furthermore, Arhin noted that the EU has selected Ghana as a Covid-19 manufacturing hub in Africa while making a financial commitment of about €170 million for the establishment of a development bank.

“Again, at the meeting with the Vice President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission indicated the selection of Ghana as a possible manufacturing hub for COVID-19 vaccines in Africa.

“This, according to the Commission, follows the initiatives already taken by the Government of President Akufo-Addo towards the domestic manufacturing of vaccines. The taskforce teams from the EU and Ghana will meet shortly to discuss modalities towards the realization of this initiative, which, in principle, could be supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB).

“As has been announced already, President Akufo-Addo has also secured one hundred and seventy million euros (€170 million) from EIB for the establishment of the Development Bank, Ghana. The new national bank will assist in the revitalisation of the economy, as well as see to the rapid recovery of the country from the ravages of COVID-19, ” the statement read on Friday.