He says particularly with the ongoing revelations in the Alfred Woyome supposed deal with the state for which a whooping amount of GHC 58 million was awarded him as a judgment debt, EOCO’s credibility should not be undermined for any political gains.
Chris Ackumey in an interview with Xfm 95.1 said that though the Economic and Organized Crime Office operates under the Attorney General’s department, it does not take directives from the Attorney General in conducting its investigations.
According to the Economic and Organized Crime Act 84 (2010), he said the law has given EOCO the mandate to conduct independent investigations into criminal cases without interference from the Attorney General.
To him, President John Mills has not faulted in appointing EOCO to begin investigations into the Woyome saga since the investigative body is constitutionally bound to look into criminal cases.
He said the political twist from various parties is drifting away the focus of the issue and so, the onus should be on the judgment debt but not EOCO. He asked political parties to stop dragging the image of EOCO in the mud but rather heed its directives to ensure the culprits are found and prosecuted.
Alfred Woyome, an acclaimed NDC financier and business tycoon, is said to have been paid a sum of money worth GHC 58 million over a purported contract he had with the previous government under the leadership of the former President Kufour during the CAN 2008. But certain political pundits and the opposition NPP have questioned the justification of the amount paid to him by the then Attorney General, Betty Mould Iddrisu.
The case has swiftly turned into a fierce heat among political parties with two Ministers of State resigning from their ministerial post.
But speaking to Xfm, Chris Ackumey believes the EOCO can put an end to the incessant Woyome brouhaha with their findings stressing that the investigative body should be freed from all political attacks.
Reacting to the defiance by some opposition NPP members to appear before the Economic and Organized Crime Office, the NDC legal practitioner says such defiance is unlawful and therefore the members should be required to undergo EOCO’s investigations.
He criticized the former President Kufour for supporting his party members’ refusal to comply with the EOCO’s order saying President Kufour is “just parroting on what the others are saying”. He said the NPP top officials who have been implicated and asked to appear before the investigative body are only “trying to take refuge under the court using the court system as a refuge.”
He also descended heavily on the Alliance For Accountable Governance doubting their aim for their demonstration against the government. According to him, AFAG should rather condemn the NPP’s misconduct towards the Economic and Organized Crime Office than resorting to such demonstration under no “known principle”.
Touching on Betty Bould Iddrisu’s resignation, Chris Ackumey said it was expected, saying, “from the development, one way or the other, the inevitable will be happening so I am not surprised”.
Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/X fm 95.1/Accra/Ghana
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