US Attorneys Visit Speaker Ocquaye Over Plans to Combat Transnational Crime

the delegation asserted that an alliance with Africa is key to fighting cross-border crimes

US Attorneys Visit Speaker Ocquaye Over Plans to Combat Transnational Crime
Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye

The Attorney General Alliance (AGA) of the United States of America, paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye to discuss an alliance with Ghana to clamp down on transnational criminal activities.

The meeting took place at the Speaker’s Conference Room in Parliament House, on Thursday morning.

The delegation was in Ghana to attend the ongoing Second Annual Attorney General Alliance-Africa (AGA-Africa) Conference, being hosted by Ghana from March 2-9, in Accra. It is on the theme “Tackling the Reality of Transnational Crime in Africa-Cross Border Solutions and International Cooperation.”

Among the delegation were State Attorneys General Letitia James of New York, Karl Racine of Washington, D.C., Denise N. George Virgin Islands Attorney General, Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Aaron Ford of Nevada, Kwame Raoul of Illinois and AGA-Africa Executive Director Karen White.

Attorney General Karl Racine of Washington, D.C. speaking on behalf of the delegation disclosed that AGA-Africa sought to build a relationship with justice and law enforcement agencies in Africa in aims of combatting transnational criminal activity.

He asserted that AGA-Africa views Ghana as a valuable partner to convene the all-important AGA-Africa Conference considering it sits at the heart of West Africa and is an important African trafficking route, making it an important player in combating the growing illicit trade in persons, drugs, artefacts and wildlife across West Africa.

.He was confident the Ghana Tourist Authority will in collaboration with AGA-Africa collaboration sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will promote responsible tourism in Ghana as part of the Beyond the Return initiative.

 

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Mr Karl Racine mentioned that notable areas that of co-operation include global terrorism, human and child trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering, sex trafficking, cyber security and hijacking, marine piracy and trans-border crime.

The Speaker of Parliament the Rt. Hon. Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye commended AGA-Africa for their initiative to help the continent deal with cross-border crime. He said challenges of this magnitude can only be solved through international cooperation and coordinated action by key stakeholders.

The Majority Leader Hon. Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu remarked that elections have a tendency to generate conflict especially in Africa and suggested everything must be done to protect its security, hence the call for cyber security.

AGA- Africa is a U.S.-based organization established in 2016 that seeks to build and foster robust relationships with justice and law enforcement agencies and officials throughout Africa to support the rule of law and combat transnational criminal activity.

AGA-Africa provides a platform for U.S. and African law enforcement officials and other key stakeholders to collaborate on strategies to combat transnational crime networks that pose a serious threat to the security and stability of the U.S., Africa, and the entire international community.