The Executive Director of Ghana Integrity Initiatives (GII), Mary Awelana Addah, has expressed that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) could have conducted a more thorough investigation into the case involving former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah.
This comes after the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice advised EOCO against initiating money laundering investigations into the matter.
In response to a request for advice from EOCO, the Attorney General’s office, in a letter dated April 25, 2024, noted that the OSP did not submit the report on its collaborative investigation to EOCO and has not responded to EOCO’s request for its findings.
Speaking on JoyNews AM show on May 2, Mrs. Addah suggested that while EOCO may rely on the Attorney General’s Office for legal advice, it could have continued its investigation independently until it was necessary to seek advice for prosecution.
She emphasized the importance of a thorough and independent investigation into allegations of wrongdoing by public officials, suggesting that EOCO should have pursued the investigation to its logical conclusion before consulting the Attorney General’s Office.
“But then it is what it is; it is very unfortunate; let me not mince words at all. The impression this is creating is that we can always get away with anything, particularly when it comes to issues around allegations of corruption because we would use the weakness in the regime or legal regime to get away with them,” she said.
“And this goes to confirm what the President said because he was speaking from the point of authority; perhaps our laws were not robust.”
Mrs. Addah suggested that EOCO could have conducted a more thorough investigation into Cecilia Dapaah’s case by scrutinizing her lifestyle, which could have provided valuable information and evidence.
She emphasized that lifestyle audits are a crucial tool in investigating allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds. EOCO should have employed this method to ensure a more comprehensive and transparent investigation.
“It is sad, but it is what it is from our current legislation and our current work. Unfortunately, we believe EOCO could have taken this up from another angle when you look at their laws.
“When you look at Section 1(3) of the current anti-money laundering law, you would see that they could have done a lifestyle,” she stated.