The LACC and Representatives of AUABC on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Appeared on OKAY FM Radio Talk Show to Discuss Liberia’s Efforts to Strengthen Asset Recovery and Combat Illicit Financial Flows

Sitting in studio was Hon. Erica Tshenolo Ndlovu - African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC) Board Member, Charity Chileshe Hamene Chimunya - AUABC Executive Secretary and Vivian S. Akoto – Executive Assistant/Program Manager to the office of the Executive Chairperson. During the interview on the OK FM Conversation with Julius Jeh, the guests highlighted the necessity of inter-agency cooperation as it relates to asset recovery, and the importance of tracing and recovering proceeds linked to corruption. Charity Hamene Chimunya explained that the training is being conducted under the Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR), adopted by the African Union in 2020, under the theme “Following the Money, Finding the Owner.” The theme highlights the need to identify illicit assets, determine true ownership, preserve asset value, and foster cross-border cooperation to return stolen wealth. Hon. Erica Tshenolo Ndlovu discussed that the fight against corruption must begin with prevention rather than waiting until stolen assets have to be recovered. She called for stronger preventive frameworks, including effective asset declarations by public officials and politically exposed persons, while warning that money laundering can be used to conceal the origins of illicit funds across different jurisdictions. She further emphasized that asset recovery involves a complete chain of prevention, investigation, tracing, seizure, freezing, confiscation and recovery, adding that international cooperation is essential because financial crimes increasingly cross national borders. Speaking on behalf of LACC, Vivian S. Akoto explained that this fight requires the collective efforts of investigators, prosecutors, financial intelligence experts, regulators and law enforcement agencies. By improving financial investigations, interagency coordination, beneficial ownership identification, prosecution and international cooperation, we are all making a commitment to produce practical results. Running from October 6–9, 2026, in Monrovia, the four-day training is covering key legal frameworks from UNCAC, UNTOC, AUCPCC, and CAPAR and Liberia’s AML/CFT laws. The curriculum features sessions on financial investigation tools, red flags, offshore money laundering structures, non-conviction-based forfeiture, Unexplained Wealth Orders, autonomous money laundering prosecutions, beneficial ownership, cybercrime, Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) requests, and human rights safeguards during asset return. This technical training is essential because tracing complex offshore financial flows requires specialized, multi-disciplinary expertise that will equip Liberia with the cross-border tools necessary to recover illicit assets.