By P. Vangerline Kpotoe
MONROVIA, Aug 14 (LINA) – The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), has officially inaugurated its new Information Center premises in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
According to a dispatch from Côte d’Ivoire, the event was held in Abidjan on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
In his remarks, H.E. Mr. Adama COULIBALY said providing a modern, well-equipped facility shows Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to supporting GIABA’s work against financial crime.
He stressed the need to strengthen training, information sharing, and regional cooperation as financial threats become more complex.
He expressed hope that the Center will grow into a regional hub of excellence for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, serving member states and bringing GIABA closer to its stakeholders.
According to the Ivorian official, the Abidjan Information Center was established following a decision by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers at its 65th Ordinary Session on November 26, 2010, in Abuja.
That decision called for two GIABA Information Centers: one in Lagos for English-speaking countries, and one in Abidjan to serve primarily French- and Portuguese-speaking ECOWAS member states.
For his part, Mr. Edwin W. HARRIS Jr., GIABA Director General, thanked the Government and people of Côte d’Ivoire for their continued support.
He said the new premises reflect the strong trust between GIABA and Côte d’Ivoire and their shared goal of protecting the region’s financial systems.
Harris stressed that the Center will be a strategic investment for French and Portuguese-speaking ECOWAS states. It is designed to be a regional space for knowledge sharing, training, research, documentation, dialogue, and cooperation.
He called on public institutions, relevant authorities, financial institutions, regulated professions, universities, researchers, students, media, civil society organizations, and development partners to make full use of the Center and take part in the training, conferences, and activities planned there.
The GIABA head stressed that special focus will be placed on youth, students, researchers, and young professionals, who will have access to resources to build skills in anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, and other financial crimes.
“The new Center includes a Computer-Based Training (CBT) facility. With specialized modules for different users, the CBT will help build capacity for authorities, financial institutions, regulated professions, judges, investigators, academics, and students” he asserted.
He announced that plans are also underway for a virtual library to provide access to reports, publications, articles, newsletters, and other research materials on financial crime.
The formal handover of keys marks a key step in cooperation between the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, the ECOWAS Commission, and GIABA. It fulfills commitments made under the Headquarters Agreement signed between Côte d’Ivoire and GIABA on March 29, 2014, in Yamoussoukro.
The ceremony included the symbolic key handover, unveiling of the plaque, ribbon-cutting, a group photo, and a guided tour of the facilities.
Officials at the key handover and opening ceremony of GIABA’s new Information Center in Abidjan includes; His Excellency Mr. Adama COULIBALY, Minister of Economy, Finance and Budget of Côte d’Ivoire.
Mr. Edwin W. HARRIS Jr., Director General of GIABA, General Idrissa TOURÉ, President of Côte d’Ivoire’s National Financial Information Processing Unit (CENTIF) and GIABA National Correspondent, as well as representatives from Ivorian authorities, ECOWAS, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, and technical and financial partners involved in fighting financial crime.
With this new location, GIABA aims to make its Abidjan Information Center a leading regional hub for reference, excellence, cooperation, and innovation helping to strengthen member states’ capacities and build a more secure, transparent, and prosperous West Africa.