Ghana - As more of the country's youth are being drawn into financial crimes, especially 'advance fee' or '419' fraud letters, e-mails and other forms of correspondence also known as 'Sakawa', the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Martin Amidu, is blaming society for the rise in the scourge as it adores the rich without bothering about the sources of their wealth. "Today's youth are impatient for success and easily throw ethics to the dogs in the mad quest for social acclaim and recognition. Society too has become less critical, in fact non-critical, of wealth creation and acquisition thus opening the sluice gates for crime and immorality. We literally adore the rich without asking about how they made their wealth," he observed.

Mr. Amidu, who was addressing the Open House Forum organized for the youth in Accra last Thursday, by the Financial Intelligence Centre and the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), therefore urged society to re-orient itself towards the rich in a positive moral direction.

The forum under the theme "The Role of the Youth in Combating Trans-national Organized Crime" was to sensitise the youth as important stakeholders in the fight against money laundering and other transnational crimes.

The menace of transnational organized in particular money laundering, terrorist financing, pose serious threats to peace, security and sustainable development, especially in countries in the West African sub-region.

The Open House Forum was therefore initiated by GIABA in 2009 for the youth as a way of soliciting their support as important stakeholders in the fight against money laundering and other transnational organized crime. It was also to educate, sensitise and mobilize all stakeholders, including the youth in the fight against the growing menace of transnational organized crime in all aspects. He expressed concern that, the youth are increasingly becoming vulnerable to the commission of such crimes.

"The youth are of particular concern to us as a nation because of their relation with the latest information technology, specifically the internet and their indiscriminate quest for success and wealth. These and other behaviours of the youth place them at great risk of corruption by unscrupulous persons, gangs and organizations, sometimes unwittingly."

The Minister said the nation as a result cannot sit idle and allow the youth, which forms a critical segment of the population, to wane.

Mr. Amidu therefore praised the organizers for involving the youth in the fight against the canker, adding that government's success at the fight against the canker will depend on the citizenry. "We shall therefore, seek greater partnership and cooperation with the citizenry especially the youth in this crusade."

He said government is committed to the fight against the scourge and has consequently taken several steps, including the passage of the Economic and Organised Crime Act, 2010(Act 804) and the Mutual Legal Assistance Act, 2010(Act 807) to deal with it.

In addition, his ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and has laid the Anti- Money Laundering Regulations before Parliament for consideration. Government has also submitted to Parliament, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime(the Palermo Convention), adopted by the General Assembly for ratification.

The Acting Chief Executive of the Financial Intelligence Centre and GIABA National Correspondent, Mr S. T. Essel, noted the involvement of the youth in these and other related crimes is overwhelming, and indicated several reports and statistics from the Ghana Police Service point out that about 80% of criminals arrested in armed robbery, rape, stealing, fraud, murder, assault, and other crimes are youths.

On the adverse effect of money laundering activities on the youth, he said the unhealthy competition posed by businesses of money launderers makes the cost of running business very high and hence a disincentive for the youth who may venture into private business.

Mr. Essel continued that, unemployment among the youth would continue to rise due to lack of development as a result of low government revenue arising from tax evasion, under invoicing as well as corrupt practices by officials.

George Amexo

Public Agenda/15/03/2011