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By Samuel Asamoah
Stakeholders in Liberia’s financial, security, and regulatory sectors have convened in Monrovia for a five-day pre-risk assessment workshop aimed at strengthening the country’s fight against money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing.
The workshop, organized by the Financial Intelligence Agency in collaboration with GIABA, is being held from March 23 to 27, 2026. It forms part of preparations for Liberia’s second National Risk Assessment (NRA), a key tool in evaluating vulnerabilities within the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.
Participants include representatives from major institutions such as the Central Bank of Liberia, Ministry of Justice, Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Liberia Revenue Authority, the National Lottery Authority, Ministry of Mines and Energy, and the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment.
Discussions at the workshop are focusing on lessons from Liberia’s previous NRA, coordination mechanisms and timelines for the new assessment, and updates to the methodology of the Financial Action Task Force. Particular attention is being given to recommendations related to risk-based supervision, non-profit organizations, financial technology, beneficial ownership transparency, and legal arrangements.
Opening the workshop, Director General of GIABA, Edwin W. Harris Jr., described the exercise as a critical step toward safeguarding Liberia’s economic and national security.
“This assessment is far more than a compliance exercise; it is a strategic investment in fortifying Liberia’s defenses and ensuring its integrity within the regional and global financial system,” he said.
Harris noted that evolving financial crime trends, driven by new technologies and increasingly sophisticated criminal networks, require a modern and data-driven response. He reaffirmed GIABA’s commitment to supporting member states through technical assistance, including the use of the World Bank’s risk assessment tool to guide the process.
He emphasized that the success of the assessment would depend on national ownership, sustainable institutional capacity, and actionable outcomes that inform policy and decision-making across sectors.
Also addressing participants, Officer-In-Charge of the FIA, Mohammed Ali Nasser, underscored the importance of the workshop in enhancing Liberia’s ability to detect and mitigate financial crime risks.
He highlighted the role of international partners, particularly GIABA and the World Bank, in providing technical guidance and support to strengthen the country’s AML/CFT framework.
According to Nasser, the adoption of the World Bank’s NRA tool will enable Liberia to conduct a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of risks across institutions, while aligning national strategies with global standards.
He urged participants to actively engage in the process and contribute their expertise toward building a resilient financial system capable of withstanding emerging threats.
The workshop is expected to lay the groundwork for Liberia’s second NRA, which will serve as a strategic blueprint for policy reforms and risk-based interventions in the country’s ongoing fight against financial crimes.
