ASEPA, Partners Launch EU-Funded Project to Promote Transparent Asset Recovery in West Africa

Accra, March 10, GNA – The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), in partnership with the Centre for International Financial Accountability and Reform (CIFAR), has launched a regional project aimed at strengthening civil society engagement in asset recovery and combating illicit financial flows across West Africa.

The initiative, dubbed “Empowering Civil Society for Transparent and Inclusive Asset Recovery in West Africa,” is funded by the European Union under the SecFin Africa Programme.

The one-and-a-half-year project will be implemented in Ghana, Gambia and Benin to enhance transparency, strengthen accountability mechanisms and promote inclusive asset recovery processes in the region.

The project was officially launched at a media event in Accra on Tuesday.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Leo Anthony Siamah, Head of Legal and Prosecution at the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), said public education and awareness creation were essential tools in the fight against corruption.

He said while investigations, prosecutions and convictions remained important, sustained public education was necessary to help citizens understand corruption-related offences and their implications.

Mr Siamah noted that many people unknowingly engaged in corrupt practices due to lack of awareness of laws and procedures.

“If we do not educate the public and create awareness, some people will not even realise that what they are doing is wrong,” he said.

He assured that EOCO would continue to support initiatives that promoted public awareness and strengthened the fight against corruption and asset recovery.

Mr Charles Owusu Sekyere, a representative of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), reiterated the commitment of the Office to combating corruption and corruption-related offences.

He said corruption deprived governments of critical resources required to provide essential services and infrastructure for citizens.

“Our duty is to ensure that corruption does not become lucrative,” he said.

Mr Sekyere said public officials who acquired wealth through corrupt means must face prosecution and should not be allowed to enjoy the proceeds of such crimes.

On the sidelines of the launch, Mr Isaac Anyane-Asare, Logistics and Procurement Officer for Illicit Financial Flows (IFF) and Asset Recovery at ASEPA, described illicit financial flows as a major challenge confronting many African countries.

He said the scale of financial resources leaving the continent through illicit channels remained worrying.

Mr Anyane-Asare noted that the project sought to strengthen collaboration among civil society organisations, government institutions and citizens to promote reforms and enhance accountability.

“We want to create awareness across the population so that citizens understand the impact of illicit financial flows on national development,” he said.

Delivering a solidarity message, Mr. Dramani Selorm Nudokpo Dzramado of Arise Ghana called for stronger accountability mechanisms to address corruption.

He said the diversion of public resources for private gain undermined development and deprived citizens of critical social services.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana, underscored the important role of the media and civil society in promoting transparency and accountability.

“Illicit financial flows remain one of the greatest threats to economic justice and sustainable development in Africa,” he said.

Dr. Wemakor said civil society organisations, the media and citizens must collaborate with state institutions to expose corruption, strengthen accountability systems and ensure that stolen public assets were recovered for national development.

He pledged the support of Human Rights Reporters Ghana in raising public awareness and promoting investigative reporting on corruption and illicit financial flows.

Organizers are optimistic the project would focus on strengthening civil society capacity, promoting policy reforms and encouraging citizen participation in monitoring asset recovery processes across West Africa.

Source:HRRG