Vera Songwe urges leaders to act collectively to combat money laundering, tax evasion and bribery

Abstract

The Executive Secretary of UN Economic Commission for Africa, (ECA) Vera Songwe, said that combatting bribery, money laundering and tax evasion should be a priority if Africa has to finance its transition to middle income status and increase prosperity. Songwe was speaking in a two-day African Leadership Forum 2018 last week in Kigali, a meeting hosted by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and convened by Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania. The Forum was attended by other former Heads of states: Olusegun Obasanjo former president of Nigeria, Mohamed Moncef Marzouki former president of Tunisia, Joaquim Chissano and Armando Guebuza former presidents of Mozambique. The Executive Secretary of UN Economic Commission for Africa, (ECA) Vera Songwe, said that combatting bribery, money laundering and tax evasion should be a priority if Africa has to finance its transition to middle income status and increase prosperity. Songwe was speaking in a two-day African Leadership Forum 2018 last week in Kigali, a meeting hosted by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and convened by Benjamin Mkapa, former President of Tanzania. The Forum was attended by other former Heads of states: Olusegun Obasanjo former president of Nigeria, Mohamed Moncef Marzouki former president of Tunisia, Joaquim Chissano and Armando Guebuza former presidents of Mozambique. Vera Songwe also applauded countries that have ratified existing global and continental initiatives on halting Illicit financial flows.