International cooperation key to combating emerging crimes — Dr Ayine
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has called for stronger international cooperation to combat emerging crimes.
That, he said, would help countries unite against crimes such as smuggling of commercial goods and trafficking in cultural property, among others.
The A-G made the call at the 34th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), held in Vienna, Austria.
It was on the theme: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science and evidence-based solutions for 2030: Agenda for sustainable development and its sustainable development goals for leaving no one behind.”
Session
The session focused on effective crime prevention strategies, enhancing global collaboration to tackle transnational crime, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and cybercrime and aligning crime prevention efforts in line with the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs, particularly those related to justice and institutions.
Outcomes from the session would set the stage for a further discussion at the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
Other members of the delegation were the Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Austria and the UN, Matilda Alomatu Osei-Agyeman, alongside officials from the Office of the Attorney-General, and Ministry of Justice, and the Embassy of Ghana in Vienna.
Dedication
Dr Ayine reaffirmed Ghana’s dedication to the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the principle of leaving no one behind.
He detailed how Ghana was mainstreaming the SDGs into national policy, prioritising energy and education, and focusing on marginalised groups, including the youth, persons with disabilities, and those in the northern regions.
On the sidelines of the event that took place from May 19 to 23 this year, Dr Ayine also held a meeting with the UNODC Executive Director, Ghada Waly.
The two focused on enhancing collaboration to combat corruption and enhance criminal justice systems.
They also discussed strategies such as leveraging technology, improving cross-border cooperation, and building capacity through partnerships in line with UNODC’s priorities to address corruption and organised crime.
Other topics were the promotion of accountability and robust legal frameworks, particularly within the African context.
Dr Ayine highlighted flagship initiatives by the government such as “Adwumawura,” a national apprenticeship programme, and the “One Million Coders” project, all of which were designed to equip the youth with digital skills and foster entrepreneurship.
He also mentioned the creation of the Women’s Development Bank to empower female entrepreneurs in the country.
Commitment
Ms Osei-Agyeman reaffirmed the continent’s commitment to the full implementation of the Kyoto Declaration and preparations for the 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
She also stressed the need to address the effects and root causes of transnational organised crime, linking crime prevention to sustainable development in line with Agenda 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
