Ghana’s Executive Director of theEconomic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, has been appointed Vice Chairperson of the Association of Heads of Anti-Corruption Institutions in Commonwealth Africa.
She was elevated at the three-day conference 13th Commonwealth Regional Conference for Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa held at Seychelles.
COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa until her elevation, initially served as the Treasurer of the antigraft body which had representatives from Botswana, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.
The Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles was confirmed as the new chairperson of the Association of the Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa.
In her remarks, she lamented that lack of funding and getting financial forensic specialists was major issue inhibiting the fight against corruption.
“Our problem is similar when it comes to our fight against corruption. There is the same problem with funding, and getting financial forensic specialists We have seen that there are some differences as well when it comes to political will.” She said.
A series of priority areas were identified to be worked on.
“In our communiqué, we guarantee that we will face these challenges and we will reinforce the services that we offer. We will also bring this fight to another level. We will ensure that we share with each other the programmes that we see are innovative and have worked in other African Commonwealth countries and that we will also be able to use these models that they have and support each other,” said de Silva.
Anti-corruption agencies of Commonwealth Africa are seeking to increase youth education and public awareness of the impact, harm and cost of corruption as well as promote integrity and accountability in public office in the Seychelles Communiqué.
The communiqué also seeks to promote leadership, honesty, selflessness, and innovation, and to prove the quality of outgoing mutual legal assistance (MLA).
Member governments are also being asked to enact and implement effective legislation, open and transparent procedures on the declaration of assets of senior public officials supported by honest wealth provisions and civil assessment recovery for future measures.
The list, containing the details of three men, was shared on Twitter.
The three men are Ezekiel Mensah Otoo, Nicholas Gyekye, and Derrick Obeng, a.k.a Chilling.
According to the EOCO, Ezekiel is wanted for the alleged offence of stealing and involvement in SIM swap fraud.
In the case of Nicholas, the EOCO did not state what crime he is alleged to have committed but only urged the public to provide it “with information on the said Nicholas Gyekye” through a phone number.
Derrick is being sought after by the EOCO for the alleged offences of stealing, defrauding by false pretence andmoney laundering.
See the photos and further details about the men below:
Executive Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Yaa Tiwa Addo-Dankwa, has urged company owners to file their annual filings.
This, she said will ensure that appropriate taxes are paid to the State thereby promoting the socio-economicdevelopment of the country.
“I encourage the business community that we are obligated to pay our taxes. Let us always remember that, little drops of taxes make a mighty nation.
“The point is, other countries have made it because of taxes and we should also do it. We should not always be concealing things from the tax man so that whatever we have to pay, we pay that,” she said on Friday.
She made this call during a brief ceremony in Techiman to inaugurate the Bono East Regional office of EOCO.
EOCO boss explained that taxes are essential to the day-to-day running of the state and as such the business community must pay to enable the government to undertake projects.
“You should also remember that you as a businessman cannot construct your own road, you cannot build your own hospitals, and you cannot construct your own terminal or anything.
“It is the taxes that government gets that they use to provide all these amenities for all of us. So we must ensure that we pay what we are obligated to pay and we should not hide anything from the tax man and we should be good citizens of the nation,” she added.
The new office will help EOCO to prevent and detect organised crimes as well as facilitate the confiscation of the proceeds of crime.
The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has revealed that its Executive Director, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, has frozen a total of 95 cars with authorisation from a High Court.
However, these vehicles are not in the possession of EOCO.
According to EOCO, anybody who is in possession of any of the vehicles “is hereby requested to report with the said vehicles and all necessary documents to EOCO not later than 3rd May, 2023.”
EOCO stressed that it will take steps to have the vehicles confiscated in accordance with the law after the said deadline.
These are vehicles believed to have been stolen and smuggled into the country. EOCO noted that information privy to the organisation indicates that about 400 luxury vehicles suspected to have been stolen from the USA and Canada are in the country.
The said vehicles were alleged to have been obtained through fraud and other crimes and shipped into the country, with some being displayed for sale in a number of garages in Accra.
The Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, has declared online scams as the leading scam in the country.
According to her, common among them are recruitment scams, investment scams, shopping scams, credit card frauds, and mobile money scams among others.
The Executive Director made this disclosure at the research and innovation week celebration of the Institute of Research, Innovation, and Development (IRID) of the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) in the Ashanti Region.
The celebration was on the theme: “Building a sustainable cyber crime-free society for economic development”.
Maame Tiwaa said digital extortion known as online blackmail or sextortion is also identified as the most prominent cyber threat.
Business e-mail compromise, she said, has also become a significant concern and threat with huge sums of money lost, affecting the financial standing of the entities.
She explained that Ghana’s internet penetration is 69. 2 per cent adding that some 6.6 million Ghanaians representing 19.5 per cent are active on social media.
She noted the move towards a digital society has created new accounts for criminals.
In suggesting ways to deal with cybercrime, COP Maame Tiwaa urged the public to be vigilant and not be susceptible to things seen on the internet.
For his part, the Head of the Kumasi Technical University’s Institute of Research, Innovation, and Development (IRID), Dr Smart Sarpong explained the programme is aimed at sensitizing the public not to be quick to communicate with people they are not sure of on the internet.
TheEconomic and Organized Crime Office‘s (EOCO) Executive Director, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, is urging individuals to participate in the campaign against cybercrime since it might undermine national security and government attempts to boost economic growth.
Speaking as the Special Guest of honor at the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) on the theme “Building a Sustainable Cyber Crime-Free Society for Economic Development”, the police Chief noted that economic prospects made possible through technology could be disrupted if cybercrime is not checked and the right framework to curb it is not put in place.
She said even though Africa has made in-routes with technological advancement, cybercrime can erode all the gains.
“Africa is said to be the fastest growing region of the world for internet penetration and for use of mobile-based financial services, hence it has become an increasingly attractive area for cybercriminals. Ghana is one of the few countries to have signed the African Union Convention on Cyber security and Personal Data Protection, and deposited the instruments of accession to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. The Opportunities brought about by digital technologies to accelerate economic growth are curtailed by the cybercrime menace hence it is imperative to provide stringent mitigating measures to build a sustainable cybercrime-free society for economic development,” she said.
“Cybercrime can cause significant damage to individuals, businesses and economies. By raising awareness, developing effective laws and regulations, promoting cyber security training, investing in technology, and establishing partnerships, we can work together to prevent cybercrime and create a safer and more secure digital environment”.
COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa noted that amidst the challenges of cybercrime, Ghana has become a trailblazer in championing the fight against cybercrime.
“In October 2019, the Economic Community of West African States endorsed Ghana as the champion in the region on cyber security and cybercrime matters, requesting the country to act as ambassador in the field and share best practices with neighbouring countries”
The Kumasi Technical University Department of Institute of Research, Innovation, and Development organised the event. The forum was to create the awareness of cybercrime and its impact on society.
Ninety-five vehicles believed to have been stolen and smuggled into the country will be seized by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) following a court order.
EOCO in a statement noted that the freezing order from the court would enable them to seize 95 more vehicles.
This, according to them will add up to 41 others seized earlier in collaboration with the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in December 2022.
EOCO added that the court order obtained would also restrain anyone from disposing of the vehicles.
According to the statement, information available to EOCO indicates that about 400 luxury vehicles suspected to have been stolen from the USA and Canada were in the country.
The said vehicles were alleged to have been obtained through fraud and other crimes and shipped into the country, with some being displayed for sale in a number of garages in Accra.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Head of EOCO, Nana Antwi says the culprits will face the law.
According to him, although the vehicles cannot be seen in the garages, EOCO is convinced that the vehicles are in the country, adding that “they would be taken one after the other.”
“We are in the process of asking for special documents or orders to do a publication of those suspected vehicles, we have their chassis numbers and ask those in possession to voluntarily submit, failing which we will draw a plan to get all of them,” he said.
James Klutse Avedzi, the head of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, has expressed alarm over COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, the EOCO’s Executive Director, who has a history of failing to appear before the committee (PAC).
According to the chairman, he is not happy with COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah as it is the second time she has failed to appear before the committee, although she was scheduled to do so.
The chairman of the committee raised concerns when EOCO appeared before the committee.
“Last year she did not attend, and this year too she did not attend. We are taking note, and it should be communicated to her that the chairman of the committee is not happy that she is not coming or appearing before the committee,” he said.
The Public Accounts Committee has started public hearings on the report of the Auditor-General for Ministries, Departments, and other Agencies (MDAs) for 2022.
The Chairman of the Committee, James Klutse Avedzi, and the members of the Committee invite ministers, directors from various institutions, and officials from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to answer queries cited in the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Sector Accounts of Ghana (General Government) for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The Chamber of Automobile Dealership Ghana (CHADG), have pulled back their threats to take action against the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and it’s Executive Director COP Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah.
The livid car dealers threatened to deal with the anti-crime organisation over the seizure of some vehicles believed to have been stolen.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) carried out an intelligence-led operation for the retrieval of various specifications of luxury vehicles in the country.
The retrieved cars, according to EOCO, were suspected to have been stolen from the United States of America (USA) and Canada.
“On Friday December 9, 2022, thirty-seven (37) of such vehicles were retrieved from some garages in Accra during which ten (10) persons were arrested,” an EOCO statement said.
Provoked by the operation carried out by EOCO, Chamber of Automobile Dealership Ghana (CHADG) accused the state institution of acting in bad faith and threatened to take action.
However, General Secretary of the Chamber George Dumenu in an interview with journalists said the threats were issued out of anger as he admits that fighting with EOCO on the issue will be fruitless.
“We were unhappy about how our vehicles were seized. No one will be happy if such a thing is done to him or her. That is why we reacted in that manner. We spoke out of anger, we cannot rub shoulders with government institutions like EOCO,” he said.
Bernard Oduro Takyi, a member of the Old Vandals Association of Commonwealth Hall, has requested that the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) look into the proprietors of hostels near the University of Ghana (UG).
His request follows a mandate on student housing from the University of Ghana, effective with the 2022–2023 academic year.
All continuing male students in Mensah Sarbah Hall and Commonwealth Hall would not go back to their dorms, according to the UG Registrar.
However, the instruction will not apply to current female students in Mensah Sarbah Hall or to students with special needs who are enrolled in both halls.
Speaking on the matter on the Morning Starr with Francis Abban, the former president of the Commonwealth, Mr. Oduro Takyi claimed that the university’s action is pressuring students to stay in the hostels nearby.
“90 percent of the hostels around the University of Ghana are owned by University Officials. I am calling on the National Investigation Bureau and Economic and Organized Crime Office to investigate and know those behind the hostels,” he added.
He further stated that “we are protecting the rights of the poor people,” adding that education is a right and not a privilege.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has retrieved thirty-seven vehicles suspected to have been stolen from the United States of America (USA) and Canada.
The exercise which was carried out in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), was based on an intelligence-led operation.
In a press statement, EOCO said these vehicles were retrieved from some garages in Ghana, on December 9, 2022 and the suspects have since been questioned and granted bail.
“The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), carried out an intelligence-led operation for the retrieval of various specifications of luxury vehicles suspected to have been stolen from the United States of America (USA) and Canada.
“On Friday December 9 2022, thirty-seven (37) of such vehicles were retrieved from some garages in Accra during which ten (10) persons were arrested. The suspects have since been questioned and granted enquiry bail,” the statement further added.
EOCO’s statement comes following allegations by some importers of used vehicles that the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and National Security unlawfully raided their garages and seized their cars.
The importers claimed that over three hundred vehicles belonging to their members were taken from them to an unknown location by EOCO.
The union had given a three-day ultimatum for government to put on hold the exercise or risk forceful retrieval of their cars even if they are auctioned.
“Even if it has been alleged that the cars have been stolen, to us we know we are not selling such cars. The cars that we are selling were completely bought. We ship them from America and Canada. We clear them here in Ghana, we have all the necessary documents to support whatever we are saying.
“We are only sending a signal to government that what they are doing does not help us as business people,” General Secretary of the Union, Clifford Ansu said, as quoted by myjoyonline.
A yet-to-be-identified Nigerian man has been arrested by the police in Ghana for allegedly beheading his girlfriend.
A journalist in the country, Serwaa Amihere disclosed this on Twitter.
According to her, the incident occurred in Spintex.
“A young Nigerian man has been picked up by the Ghana Police Service for allegedly beheading his girlfriend at Spintex,” she posted while attaching a video of the incident.
The corpse of the lady was seen being taken to the back of a pickup vehicle in the video.
This is coming a few weeks after the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) arrested seven Nigerians in connection with alleged involvement in activities of cybercrime in Ghana.
The suspects were nabbed after the EOCO acted on intelligence to raid a residence at Manhean, Obeyeyie in the Greater Accra Region.
A young Nigerian man has been picked up by the Ghana Police Service for allegedly beheading his girlfriend at Spintex. pic.twitter.com/itSjjuwPqz
The Economic and Organized Crimes Office (EOCO) has joined efforts to improve royalty payments and collections due the state from the mining sector in Ghana.
EOCO has thus become the newest member of a group of related agencies in the extractive and minerals sub sector led by the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
MIIF is the statutory body that receives royalties on behalf of the state, manages the equity interest of Government of Ghana in large-scale mining companies. The Fund subsequently invests these dividends and royalties on behalf of the people of Ghana.
The Inter Agency collaboration is borne out of a framework to enhance the collection of royalties, expand the royalties net and streamline communication on royalties’ payments especially from non-gold mining sector such as salt mining, sand winning, limestone, granite, and quarrying.
Strategic collaboration
The collaboration which was initiated by MIIF in December 2021, has improved the efficiency in collections of non-gold royalties through collaborative efforts of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) which is responsible for the collection of royalties on behalf of MIIF, the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) which assesses standards and accurate production measurements of minerals and the Minerals Commission (MINCOM), the regulator of the mining sector.
The Inter-Agency committee comprises officials from the Minerals Commission, the regulator of the sector, Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, welcomed the inclusion of EOCO to the Inter-Agency. “The inclusion of EOCO” Mr Koranteng indicated “adds a new dimension to this all-important initiative and we will leverage on their expertise and infrastructure to help identify and collect royalties from these mineral types”.
Results so far
“Payments of Royalties from quarries since we started this Inter-Agency Collaboration in December 2021 have gone up by over 100%. For the first time in Ghana’s history, Sand Winners who had never paid royalties to the State are now making good their commitments and paying royalties.
“The Salt and Limestone sectors are performing above 200% on pre-November 2021 figures. We could end the year at circa GHc 30 million which was lost to the state previously” Edward Koranteng said.
The collaboration is also yielding reconciliation of data, collection of data and information sharing much quicker. We are dilating on the same information and adopting a singular multifaceted strategy because we are all in one room thinking about solutions and efficiency.
“This helps us to leverage our experiences for innovation. For example, through this inter-agency, the business development unit of MIIF has built a geo-mapping system covering most of the non-gold minerals.
“We are working together, with the relevant laws and mandates leaving no room for exploitation by those who want to take advantage of the system by deliberately living in the crevasses. This is the true benefit of working together” Koranteng added.
EOCO’s role
The Economic and Organized Crime Office established by the Economic and Organized Crime Office Act, 2010 (Act 804) is a specialized agency to monitor and investigate economic crimes and on the authority of the Attorney-General prosecute these offences to recover the proceeds of crime and provide for related matters.
“It has as part of its mission; detecting, investigating, preventing and prosecuting all serious economic and organized crimes in Ghana. The non-payment of royalties offends the law.
“There are instances where some of the practices of companies in the mining sector border on clear attempts to evade their payment obligation through very complex schemes.
“What EOCO further brings to the Inter- agency is a law enforcement muscle and also the ability to detect and investigate these practices” Koranteng said.
The Executive Director of EOCO, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah stated that, “EOCO has a mandate to investigate crimes and prevent the occurrence of same”.
“To be able to do this we need to better understand the mining sector to enable a full deployment of our resources, collect and package evidence professionally and to protect data collected.
“This is what we bring to the Inter Agency Framework”. We are excited to be part of an all-government collaboration.” The EOCO boss said.
About MIIF
MIIF is a sovereign minerals fund mandated by the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act 2018, (Act 978) as amended, to maximize the value of dividend and royalties’ income accruing to the Republic of Ghana in a beneficial, accountable and sustainable manner and to monetize Ghana’s mineral wealth in a manner which would bring long term value to Ghana.
MIIF also has 100% ownership of Agyapa Royalties Company, the only state-owned gold royalties company in Africa. MIIF has plans to list Agyapa on the London Stock Exchange and the Ghana Stock Exchange.
MIIF has invested in the Toronto, Frankfurt and now Ghana listed Asante Gold Corporation which has just opened the lucrative Bibiani gold mine and is on the verge of acquiring the Kinross Chirano gold mine in Ghana.
The acquisition will create one of the largest gold mining companies in West Africa. MIIF is also planning to invest in lithium and other upcoming gold projects.
The ongoing prosecution of former and current government officials has “vindicated” President Nana Akufo-commitment Addo to fighting corruption.
According to him, legislation to enhance the legal framework for dealing with corrupt activities, such as the CHRAJ, EOCO, and the Judiciary, is a strong sign of the government’s and his own desire to combat corruption.
President Nana Akufo-Addo made these statements in an interview on Otec FM’s morning show “Nyansapo” hosted by Captain Koda, in Kumasi, on Monday, October 17, 2022.
He stated that he has not hesitated to back the Attorney-General to prosecute any person where there is evidence like in the case of the former head of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng.
“There are a whole lot of prosecutions going on of people of the past government and even of this government. The former head of the Public Procurement Authority is on trial today for acts of corruption in my time,” the president noted.
“There is also a whole lot of legislation to strengthen the legal framework for dealingwith the acts of corruption. All the corruption institutions like the police, the CHRAJ, the EOCO, and the Judiciary among others have been strengthened,” he added.
He mentioned that the creation and works of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) have also given him hope in the quest to reduce corruption in the country.
“Kissi Agyebeng is doing very in that office. He is not a direct government or party member but somebody who has the courage to strike where he has to strike, irrespective of the person’s party affiliation,” he eugolized.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) yesterday repatriated 21 Nigerian youth who were rescued from a group of Nigerian human traffickers that was operating in the country.
The rescued youth, aged between 15 and 20 years, were picked up by EOCO last month during a swoop to arrest some people allegedly involved in cyber crime.
However, after investigations, it was established that they were rather victims of human trafficking going on in the country, hence the decision by EOCO to send them back to their country.
At a press conference, the Deputy Executive Director in charge of Operations at EOCO, Nana Antwi, said the arrangement for the repatriation exercise was a collaborative work among EOCO, an NGO and the Nigerian High Commission.
The swoop
He disclosed that the swoop was organised on September 26 through an intelligence-led operation at a location in Accra.
The victims and seven suspects, he said, were picked up in a house where all the Nigerians had been housed by the suspected human traffickers and were being trained in Internet cyber fraud.
Relating what had happened, Nana Antwi said: “On that day, 28 people were arrested. We had the firm conviction that the arrest covered both the victims and the organisers of the trafficking. Subsequent investigative processes revealed that, in actual fact, of the number, 28 young males whose ages were not above 20 years were trafficked from Nigeria and brought to Ghana, housed, given computers and other accessories and were being trained on how to conduct criminal activity with the gadgets.”
The seven suspects, he said, had since October 3 been put before court to answer charges related to the crimes of which they had been accused.
“As a result of the sorting and critical analysis, we found it prudent to separate the victims from the suspects,” he said.
Security Agencies support
Nana Antwi commended the security agencies whose support led to the successful operation and subsequent deportation of the victims.
“In fact, an hour from now, they will start the journey towards their home country, Nigeria. There has been close collaboration with the Nigerian anti-human trafficking authorities and other relevant agencies.
“The Ghana Immigration Service too is in this exercise and all local related agencies are also involved, just as our police counterparts who gave us a very good backing during the September 26 operation,” he said.
Numerous enterprises are functioning without Business Operating Permits in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) region, according to the Executive Director, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah.
She stated that EOCO will work with the AMA to resolve this issue.
When she led a group on a working visit to Elizabeth Sackey, the mayor of Accra, Madam Tiwaa Addo Danquah made these remarks.
She disclosed that her outfit decided to set up its Accra region to concentrate on the activities of various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies and support them to increase revenue.
“There are a lot of things we bring to the table when it comes to the activities you do, there are a lot of fees and rates people don’t want to pay and we are here as a state organization to help you collect them, also our presence here is to let you know what we bring to the table and how we can support you to achieve your mandate to develop the Accra we want,” she said.
”We were in the Upper East and the MCE told us that those who were supposed to pay their rates and fees to the Assembly had done so by an invitation from EOCO… Together they have improved on their revenue collection and we want to extend that same collaboration to the AMA… There are a lot of businesses operating within your area of jurisdiction who have no Business Operating Permit from the Assembly and these are things that we will work on together,” she added.
The AMA boss who received the entourage to her office expressed concerns over the inability to generate enough revenue due to leakages adding that the Assembly was in the process of digitalising its revenue collection system to check revenue leakages and increase its Internally Generated Funds (IGF).
She said the Assembly was ready to work with EOCO to help address issues such as the issuance of fake tickets among other financial malpractices to increase revenue.
“We are ready to work together, we need your support in many areas and we are happy to have you, Our revenue is not flowing the way it should,” she said.
She assured the EOCO team of her offices’ resolve to work together to increase the Assembly’s revenue base.
The Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Mrs. Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Dankwa has said her office has been working to retrieve misappropriated money captured in the Auditor General’s report.
The EOCO director was speaking at the office of the Savannah regional coordinating council as part of her working visit to the region.
Mrs. Tiwaa said it was part of their mandate to investigate and where possible retrieve monies lost as reported by the Auditor General.
“When you look at the Auditor General’s report, every year when it comes out, we don’t let it go like that. We take it district by district, item by item, and we look at how we can recover some of the issues raised in the Auditor General’s report.”
COP Tiwaa said her outfit also investigates and prosecutes, on behalf of the Attorney General, people identified by the Auditor General to have committed offences.
“Where we need to investigate further, we will. Those we can recover for government, we will. These are ways we can work together for our mutual benefit.”
COP Tiwaa also a former director of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service told female police to give out their best to justify more females to be taken into the service.
She said females currently make up 29% of the Ghana Police Service and said, if the females work hard enough, the service will have a reason to take more to meet the United Nations ratio of 40%.
The Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, and five others have donated GH¢30,000 and some relief items to the Ark Foundation.
The donation was part of their birthday celebration on Friday, August 19 and a form of benevolence to society.
The items presented were bags of rice, bottles of water, biscuits, drinks, sanitary towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sardines, slippers, detergent, packs of toilet rolls, among others.
Celebrants
The celebrants, who included the EOCO boss, were the Director in charge of ICT at the Police Hospital, DCOP Vance Gariba; a gynaecologist specialist at the Police Hospital, Supt Alex Ackon; a psychologist at the Police Hospital, Supt Adwoa Nuoro-Panin, and a Medical Specialist at the Lister Hospital, Dr Edem Hiadzi.
They were accompanied by their family members, friends and some members of staff ofEOCO.
Donation
Mrs Addo-Danquah said the donation was an activity which the group undertook often to celebrate their birthdays with the less-privileged, while giving back to society.
She said the selection of the foundation for the donation was because of the support it gave the Police Service and EOCO in their workshops, training and, most importantly, ensuring that the lives of women and girls were protected from all forms of abuse.
Speaking on behalf of the group, DCOP Gariba said: “It is always fulfilling to give back to society, and with the symbiotic relationship we have with the foundation these past years, we felt the need to celebrate this special day of ours by giving a little to help in its operations.â€
He commended the foundation for the sacrifice and support it gave the neglected and battered in society and prayed for a continual partnership with the foundation as its vision came to fruition.
Gratitude
The Executive Director of the Ark Foundation, Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, expressed her gratitude to the group for donating the items to help address the needs of the foundation.
She described the needs of some survivors in the shelter as basic necessities, from slippers to jobs, saying the donation “goes a long way in delivering some of these necessities to our survivorsâ€.
Mrs Dwamena-Aboagye said since the inception of the foundation 23 years ago, the security and medical agencies had remained a core partner to its operations, saying supporting both professionally and socially was important and called for the support of stakeholders, individuals and corporate organisations.
The meeting afforded ACFE the opportunity to familiarize itself with the functions of EOCO in order to establish ties for collaboration in fighting fraud
The executive director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah on Wednesday (20 July) met with members of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) to discuss ways of collaboration between the two institutions.
According to the President of the Association, the meeting was for the ACFE to familiarize itself with the functions of EOCO in order to establish ties for collaboration in the fight against Fraud in Ghana.
COP Addo-Danquah expressed her appreciation to the Association for its willingness to bring its expertise to bear on the operations of the Office.
She added that being an associate member of the association, she looked forward to the invaluable addition that a collaboration between the two organizations would bring.
Following a presentation by EOCO on the Functions of the Office amidst insightful interactions, the President of ACFE affirmed their readiness for a harmonious working relationship with EOCO.
Also in attendance were the deputy director of Operations, Nana Antwi, the director of administration,
and the special assistant to the executive director.
A Nigerian criminal syndicate led by one Sunny Anwamini (Sam), has been busted by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) for defrauding a Ukrainian businessman to the tune of $6.5 million.
The suspect, Sunny, 52, was apprehended on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, by EOCO in an intelligence-led operation in partnership with the state National Security.
According to sources at EOCO, the suspect met his victim (Mazen Farakh), in December 2018 in Ghana during which the latter expressed interest in purchasing expensive wood pieces known as “Teak.â€
Sam, after receiving the sum of $6.5 million from the Ukrainian businessman, sent photographs of fake pallets of teak stored in custom bonded warehouses to him and promised to get the goods delivered in Ukraine.
However, Mazen Farakh in his statement at the EOCO, disclosed that for over three (3) years, Sunny failed to deliver containers of the products as stated in their agreement.
On March 27, 2022, Sunny was arrested by police personnel from the Ghana Police Headquartersin Accra but was later released after a brief detention.
A case in point was when one Kofi Karikari, a police officer with the Accra Regional Police Command, was seen openly providing escort for Sunny in very suspicious circumstances.
Meanwhile, Mazen Farakh wants to recover his $6.5 million from the Nigerian criminal syndicate and is therefore appealing to the powers that be to ensure that Sunny Anwamini is made to face the full rigors of the law.
The Ukrainian businessman and his partners have expressed worry over the present state of affairs in relation to the country’s justice delivery system, calling on authorities to ensure that Sunny is made to face justice in a manner that will make him recover his money from the Nigerian criminal syndicate.
For this reason, the Ukrainian businessman is currently in the country to ensure that Sunny is brought to book.
Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, a former Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, will take office as the new Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) today.
This follows her appointment by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to replace Steve Raymond Dapaa-Addo, who was appointed as Director-General of EOCO on July 9, 2021.
COP Addo-Danquah recently served as the Director-General of the Police Professional and Standards Bureau.
COP Addo-Danquah is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Forensic Accountant.
She holds a Master of Business Administration (Finance Option) Degree from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana and was the Director of Commercial Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for more than three years as well as the Director of CID Trainings for three years.
For more than 15 years, Maame Tiwaa played a leading role in fraud detection and investigations both within the CID, and in the Public and Private sectors.
She attended over a dozen conferences and training events in financial crime investigations and also facilitated in more than 25 training programmes in fraud investigations both within Ghana for the Financial Institutions, and abroad.
COP Addo-Danquah was the coordinator of a project at the CID, which aims at building capacity of CID Investigators in financial fraud and cybercrime investigations.
She has also been consulted in numerous engagements, including the development of Post Chartered Diploma in Forensic Audit for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (IGAG) and has been a resource person for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana.
COP Addo-Danquah was the first Commandant of the Ghana Police Command and Staff College, Winneba, the highest training institution of the Ghana Police Service.
She held various appointments in the Ghana Police Service, including Ghana Police Hospital Administrator, Divisional Commander, Accra Central Division, Ministries, Accra, Deputy Director-General, Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau, Deputy DirectorGeneral/CID and Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department, the first Woman to be appointed to that position since the inception of the CID in 1948.
She is currently the President of the Ghana Police Ladies Association and immediate past President of the Association of Women Accountants, Ghana.
COP Addo-Danquah was recruited into the Ghana Police Service in 1990.
EOCO said it had in recent times received a number of complaints from salaried workers, who had fallen victims to these individuals.
A statement issued in Accra, and signed by Madam Faustina Lartey, Head of Public Relations on behalf of the Executive Director, EOCO said these scammers were attempting to take advantage of people who may be struggling financially.
It said these “unscrupulous†individuals called and sent text messages promising loans at affordable rates and promising to coach individuals to secure loans for a fee.
On the mode of operation, the statement said these scammers called and persuaded salaried workers to secure loans or propose to assist them to secure loans.
It said this was done in the hope of retrieving their locked up funds at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD).
“These unscrupulous individuals pose as staff of (CAGD), thus, assure unsuspecting victims that they can secure a loan from any financial institution,†it said.
It also told their victims the amount of money to procure after checking their affordability.
“This is supposed to help ease the process of retrieving the locked-up funds owned by the victim,” it said.
The statement said the scammer would promise that the CAGD would pay the lump sum to the financial institution where the loan was acquired so that after the loan was secured the scammer would take a percentage of the total sum.
It said in other instances, they persuaded salaried workers and took their passport pictures and identity cards with the hope of securing the loan on their behalf.
“The worker receives the loan, pays the agreed percentage to the scammer, but ends up paying double the amount that was previously agreed on,” it said.
It said once the victim realised they had been scammed, all efforts to reach the scammer proved futile.
EOCO said there were many red flags that salaried workers should be on the lookout for, including but not limited to: a demand for payment upfront or after, instructions to submit personal details to a third party, persistent calls, messages to convince you to go for a loan.
It urged workers to contact the financial institution directly, make enquiries and request the loan amounts they needed.
Salaried workers should also contact their institution or company’s Finance Department for information about their eligibility for loans and other requirements.
“Work with a legitimate, licensed and qualified person or company. If you have any locked-up funds with Controller and Accountant General’s Department, write to them through your institution to request for your money,” it added.
The statement advised workers not to under any circumstance engage an unknown third party to retrieve unpaid or locked up salaries with CAGD and they should not hand over their personal details, staff ID numbers and passwords to third parties.
It said EOCO in line with its mandate to prevent and detect organised crime would continue to monitor these developments with the aim to ensure that citizens are protected from scammers and fraudsters.
An alleged baby trafficking syndicate has been again busted by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the Medical and Dental Council after thorough investigations
According to the Executive Director of EOCO, COP Frank Adu Poku (Rtd), the buying and selling of babies has been on the radar of the crime office for the past three months and has so far resulted in the arrest of four more persons involved in baby harvesting.
According to Mr Frank Adu Poku, they currently have in their custody three babies, all safe and healthy in a foster home pending a final determination of the cases.
He explained that, in February 2020, their outfit received information that two women had allegedly gone to purchase a baby from Susan Clinic located at Lartebiokorshie in Accra.
The women, Florence Acquah, and Eleanor Ofori Nsiah together with the one Dr Hope Quarshie Mensah of Susan Clinic were all arrested.
Subsequently, Dr Noah Kofi and Nancy Obayaa Lartey who were also engaged in baby harvesting at Tema General Hospital have been arrested and are currently on EOCO enquiry bail.
COP Frank Adu Poku (Rtd) also indicated that, as a result of the ongoing investigations on the Baby Harvesting, they have so far received four petitions from victims which one of them is a banker, who in 2016 was rushed to 37 Military Hospital as a result of pregnancy complications.
One Dr Hope Mensah referred her to his private facility due to no bed but upon delivery, the Dr later told her the baby could not make it but she heard the baby cry.
He, therefore, cautioned some faceless cowards who are issuing threats to EOCO and Medical and Dental Council officials that, they are not relenting on preventing organized crimes.
One of the medical doctors arrested by the Economic and Organised Crime Office in connection with a recent crackdown on a baby-harvesting and human trafficking syndicate has admitted to selling more than 12 babies over the period.
This was revealed by the Executive Director for EOCO, Commissioner of Police Frank Adu-Poku (Rtd) in an interview with Accra-based Adom FM monitored by GhanaWeb, stated that his outfit’s collaborative investigation with the Ghana Medical and Dental Council has led to the unravelling of many secrets including the confession by the doctor.
“During our investigations and during the process, one of the doctors told us that he has sold about 12 babies. This tells us what is happening in our hospitals,†he stated.
Whiles failing to give further details on the revelation, COP Adu-Poku urged mothers to be vigilant especially during and after labour.
“Women should be vigilant when they are about to deliver because the moment you refuse to pay attention or a family member stops paying attention, it may become problematic,†he added.
Last week, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Ghana Medical and Dental Council through collaborative efforts arrested 11 people suspected to be involved in the harvesting of babies and human trafficking in some health facilities in the Greater Accra Region.
The suspects include two medical doctors, four nurses, two mothers, two social welfare officers and a traditional birth attendant.
The suspects during the operation sold two baby boys for a combined price of GHS 58,000 with one being sold for GH¢ 30,000.00 and the other GH¢ 28,000.00.
The Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Frank Adu-Poku has provided harrowing details into the activities of a syndicate involved in a baby harvesting and child trafficking.
The syndicate was busted on December 31, 2020 after EOCO in collaboration with the Medical and Dental Council conducted investigations into the alleged activities from the period of June and November 2020.
The joint effort led to the arrest of Dr. Hope Mensah Quashie of the 37 Military Hospital who also operated a private health facility, Susan Clinic in Laterbiokoshie-Accra and one Dr. Noah Kofi Lartey, a medical practitioner with the Obstetrician and Gynaecology Department of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge, who also operates a private hospital known as the Dangbe Community Hospital in Prampram.
The EOCO director, speaking to Accra-based Citi FM on Thursday January 21, revealed that “one of the mothers who was arrested told her family the baby was dead and received GH¢8,000.â€
He further revealed that a second person involved in a similar trade was a 17-year-old who delivered a pre-term baby. Frank Adu-Poku added that officials of the facility who were also social welfare workers decided to trade off the baby.
So far, 11 persons including two doctors have been arrested in connection with their involvement with the baby harvesting and human trafficking syndicate.
The umbrella body of doctors in Ghana, the Medical and Dental Council has since withdrawn the licenses of the two doctors pending their arrest and further investigations into the matter.
The other accused and arrested persons who have all been named as accomplices in the crime are Sylvia Awuseh, John Adorey Effie, Dede Gifty Anikpi and Angela Ametepe.
A thorough investigation conducted by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has exonerated the former Vice-Chancellor of UEW, Prof. Mawutor Avoke and his Finance officer, Dr. Theophilus Ackorlie Senyo of any wrongdoings, according to Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
He has therefore written to the Governing Council of the University of Education (UEW), calling on them to consider implementing the recommendations proposed by the EOCO report and ensure that justice is served.
“I have read in detail the report of EOCO and its appears regrettably that Rev. Fr. Prof. Afful-Broni who was the lead complainant of the Procurement irregularities and persistently urged my office to pursue same was indicted while his Boss, Prof. Mawutor Avoke and the Finance Officer, Dr Theophilous Senyo Ackorlie were completely exonerated of any wrongdoing” portions of his letter read.
