Gambian financial economist Mam Cherno Jallow has officially assumed office as the new Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), bringing more than three decades of experience in economic development, strategic planning, private-sector development and regional cooperation to the leadership of the ECOWAS institution.
His appointment was approved by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at its 69th Ordinary Session held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026. He takes over from Liberian Edwin W. Harris Jr. for a four-year mandate.
Mr Jallow’s assumption of office comes at a critical period for West Africa, as countries across the region continue efforts to strengthen systems for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other forms of financial crime.
Prior to his appointment as Director-General, Mam Cherno Jallow had been serving at GIABA, giving him a strong understanding of the institution’s mandate, structures and operations. He joined GIABA in January 2022 as Head of Strategic Planning and Resource Mobilisation, a position he held until December 2023.
In that capacity, he was responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of GIABA’s strategic plan while ensuring that the institution’s programmes remained aligned with ECOWAS priorities and its regional financial-crime mandate.
From January 2024, he served as Acting Director of Administration and Finance at GIABA, where he supervised the institution’s administrative and financial operations, as well as those of the ECOWAS Centre for Gender Development.
Before joining GIABA, Mr Jallow worked in the Office of the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria. From January 2019 to December 2021, he served as Head of Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
In that role, he oversaw the coordination and development of the Community’s Strategic Framework, as well as the medium-term work programmes of ECOWAS institutions, departments and agencies.
His experience within the ECOWAS system also includes serving from October 2015 to January 2019 as Head of Cooperation with Emerging and Developed Markets at the ECOWAS Commission.
During that period, Mr Jallow worked to strengthen cooperation between ECOWAS and emerging economies, including the Republic of Turkey, China and other BRICS countries.
Earlier in his career, from February 2010 to September 2015, Mam Cherno Jallow served as Director-General of the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI).
He is credited with helping to revitalise FEWACCI and repositioning the organisation as a key partner in regional economic policy discussions, particularly in matters concerning the private sector and economic development.
Before his regional responsibilities at the ECOWAS Commission and GIABA, Mr Jallow held various positions at The Gambia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he served as Executive Director for six years.
His professional background therefore spans public-sector administration, private-sector development, strategic planning, resource mobilisation, institutional management and regional economic cooperation.
Mr Jallow is also a multilingual professional. He is fully bilingual in English and French, has a good knowledge of Arabic and possesses a working knowledge of Spanish.
His contribution to economic development in The Gambia has earned him national recognition. In 2010, he was awarded the distinction of Member of the Order of the Republic of The Gambia (MRG).
The honour recognised his commitment and contribution to the economic development of
The Gambia, as well as his professional career dedicated to developing the country’s public and private sectors and strengthening institutions in The Gambia and the wider West African sub-region.
As he begins his four-year tenure at GIABA, Mr Jallow is expected to draw on his extensive experience within the ECOWAS system and his background in strategic and financial management to strengthen the institution’s work across West Africa.
At his assumption-of-office ceremony in Dakar on August 31, 2026, he identified the strengthening of the technical and financial capacities of member states as a key priority of his mandate, particularly as countries prepare for the next cycle of mutual evaluations.
His appointment marks the return of a highly experienced Gambian professional to the leadership of a major regional institution and places his extensive knowledge of ECOWAS structures, economic cooperation and institutional development at the centre of West Africa’s collective efforts against financial crime.
Born on 10th July 1966 in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia, Mam Cherno JALLOW is a financial economist by training. He holds an MBA in Banking and Finance from the African Centre for Higher Studies in Management (CESAG) in Dakar, Senegal, specialising in financial markets and corporate finance; and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Economics from the International Islamic University of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
A trained expert in anti-money laundering, he has extensive experience in private sector development and has led, with an impeccable track record, institutions promoting the private sector at both national and regional levels.
He has been active within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ecosystem for sixteen (16) years and has in-depth knowledge of its institutions.
As an economist and financier, the Director-General of GIABA has over thirty-five (35) years’ experience in his country’s public and private sectors, in sub-regional institutions and in matters relating to private sector development.
From January 2024 until his appointment as head of GIABA, Mr JALLOW served as Ag. Director of Administration and Finance.
Among his achievements, he was responsible for the administrative and financial oversight of GIABA and the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre for the (EGDC).
Mr JALLOW joined GIABA in January 2022 as Head of Strategic Planning and Resource Mobilisation, a role he held until December 2023.
In this role, he oversaw the development and implementation of GIABA’s strategic plan, in line with ECOWAS’s objectives and the institution’s mission as a Regional FATF-style body. He developed and maintained an up-to-date understanding of programmes and beneficiaries across the organisation and in all countries of operation.
