The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) of Ghana has announced a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to combat economic and organised crime. As of the end of June 2023, EOCO has successfully recovered a total of GH¢79 million in proceeds of crime, surpassing its annual target of GH¢60 million for the year. This achievement marks a substantial increase from the GH¢50 million recovered in the previous year, which also exceeded its target of GH¢30 million.
Proceeds of crime refer to money or assets acquired illegally through criminal activities or obtained at the expense of state institutions. EOCO’s efforts in retrieving these illicit funds have included investigations into businesses and individuals who under-declared taxes to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), as well as other cases involving illegal wealth acquisition that negatively impacted state entities such as the Gaming Commission and the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA).
EOCO’s success in exceeding its recovery targets reflects its commitment to addressing financial loss to the state, money laundering, human trafficking, prohibited cyber activity, tax fraud, and other serious offenses. The authority is empowered by Section three of the EOCO Act, 2010 (Act 804) to take necessary steps to recover the proceeds from such crimes.
A Five-Year Strategic Plan
EOCO’s achievements are in line with its five-year strategic plan, which aims to recover and manage proceeds of crime worth GH¢350 million by June 2028. This ambitious goal underscores the office’s dedication to combatting economic and organised crime in Ghana comprehensively.
During a recent interaction with editors and media practitioners in Accra, the Executive Director of EOCO, Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, emphasized that some of the office’s achievements cannot be quantified solely in financial terms. These non-monetary successes include rescuing and reuniting human trafficking victims with their families, raising awareness about activities that could make individuals vulnerable to economic and organised crime, and collaborating with other law enforcement agencies to combat and prevent crime.
COP Addo-Danquah highlighted the importance of partnership with the media as a pivotal component of EOCO’s five-year strategic plan (2023-2028). She stressed that the office is eager to work closely with the media to educate the public about its operations and to raise awareness of various crimes, encouraging public vigilance.
Media Partnership
The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, praised EOCO for its decision to collaborate with the media to achieve its strategic objectives. He emphasized that the media has consistently played a crucial role in national development and welcomed this strategic partnership with EOCO. Mr. Dwumfour stressed that fighting organised crime is a collective responsibility, given its complexity and evolving nature, which is further complicated by technological advancements.
Mr. Dwumfour urged EOCO to consider providing training for GJA members engaged in investigative journalism. Such training, he argued, would enhance their skills and knowledge, ultimately strengthening the fight against crime in Ghana. He reaffirmed the GJA’s commitment to supporting EOCO while also maintaining its accountability mandate, which includes constructive criticism where necessary.
Additionally, the Board Chairman of EOCO, Stephen Raymond Dapaa-Addo, announced the institution of an award for the best crime story published in the media that is biased toward the office. This initiative aims to recognize and incentivize quality journalism in the field of organized crime reporting.
