Attorney-General urges religious leaders to help fight money laundering, terrorism financing

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has urged religious leaders to intensify the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.

He called for the adoption of strong governance measures, including internal audits and the mandatory verification of donor identities, to ensure religious institutions act as “true ethical stewards.”

The remarks were delivered on his behalf by Madam Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecutions, at a National Sensitisation Seminar in Accra.

The seminar, organised by the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), was attended by bishops, pastors, imams, church administrators and other faith-based leaders.

It seeks to equip them with the knowledge and tools to identify, prevent and report suspicious transactions, and to establish internal mechanisms that protect their congregations and institutions from being misused for criminal purposes.

Dr Ayine observed that the world faces increasingly complex financial crimes that transcend borders, sectors and even faith communities.

“In recent years, evidence has shown that terrorist financiers and criminal networks have increasingly sought to exploit charitable and religious organisations, founded on trust, compassion and service, as channels to disguise or transfer illicit funds,” he stated.

Dr Ayine warned that while faith-based institutions are sacred spaces dedicated to promoting peace and righteousness, their community-oriented nature and the high level of public trust they command can make them vulnerable. Without strong safeguards, they could inadvertently be used to facilitate financial crimes.

He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment, as a member of GIABA, to implementing international standards on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT).

“Our Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044) provides a comprehensive legal framework for combating illicit financial flows, including provisions on the obligations of reporting entities, beneficial ownership transparency, and sanctions for non-compliance. Together with the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, 2020 (Act 1015), Ghana has built a robust architecture to enhance financial integrity and support international cooperation,” Dr Ayine said.

He commended GIABA for its leadership in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing in the ECOWAS region, stressing that combating financial crimes is not only a legal obligation but a moral duty.

“It is about protecting our people, our faith and our nation from forces that seek to undermine peace and stability,” Dr Ayine added.

The Acting Principal Officer at GIABA’s Communication and Advocacy Unit, Mr Timothy Melaye, who spoke on behalf of the Director-General of GIABA, Edwin Harris Jr, said it is worrying that illicit income-generating crimes such as corruption, kidnapping, human and drug trafficking have increased in the sub-region.

He noted that the influence of religious leaders is crucial in tackling these vices, urging them to use their platforms to speak and act against violent extremism, terrorism, corruption and other crimes.

Mr Melaye said GIABA expects the seminar to renew the commitment of religious and opinion leaders to raise awareness and promote moral discipline through their teachings and actions.

“If we must rid our societies of these wrongdoings, we must continue to stand as shining examples, resist negative influences, and guide our followers in building a safe and secure society,” he stressed.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Mr Kofi Boakye, outlined the Centre’s functions, citing a recent report that shows Ghana still faces significant money laundering risks. He identified the real estate and gold mining sectors as particularly vulnerable.

Mr Boakye also urged faith-based leaders to support the national anti-illicit finance agenda by incorporating lessons from the seminar into their teachings.