Media Must Be Armed to Report Illicit Financial Flows and Corruption – GII
By Dorothy Frances Ward
Kumasi, May 8, GNA - It is essential to provide the media with adequate knowledge, skills, and resources to enable them to thoroughly investigate and report on illicit financial flows (IFFs) as well as various types of corruption. This will help foster better governance and enhance accountability.
Mr. Michael Boadi, the Fundraising Manager for Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), which is the local branch of Transparency International, emphasized this point when he spoke out. He stressed that journalists have an essential duty as watchdogs; they should uncover political corruption and misconduct within organizations impartially, without being swayed by bias or pressure.
He spoke during a one-day awareness program on Illicit Financial Flows and Beneficial Ownership Transparency aimed at journalists from central Nigeria, which took place in Kumasi.
The workshop organized by the GII was designed to enhance the skills of media professionals in identifying and covering illegal financial transactions.
The training was a component of a initiative called "Reducing Illicit Financial Flows and Boosting Domestic Revenue Generation in Selected Nations."
The funding comes from NORAD via the GFI initiative.
The participants received training in techniques aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability, as well as crucial strategies to fight corruption.
They learned methods for examining monetary transactions, tracing origins, collecting proof, and safeguarding informants as well.
IFFs encompass illicit transfers of funds or assets between countries and incorporate practices like tax avoidance and money laundering.
The workshop emphasized the significance of employing data analysis for detecting illicit financial flows, all while reducing potential damage and maintaining openness.
Mr. Boadi advised journalists to remain mindful of the hazards associated with probing into illicit financial flows, which encompass concerns about digital security, personal safety, as well as the necessity for adequate legal safeguards.
Mrs. Mary Addah, the Executive Director of GII, stressed that combating corruption necessitates a collaborative approach.
She recognized IFFs as an increasing menace and highlighted the crucial need for collecting strong evidence to address this problem.
She additionally urged for more stringent measures against illicit marketplace actions, funding of terrorist activities, and various types of exploitation.
The journalists present at the event similarly called for sufficient safeguards in their profession, particularly when probing high-stakes corruption cases.
GNA
YI/KOA
