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Clara Beeri Kbader-Tee, a lawyer, said that in order for the Bureau of Economic and Organized Crime (EOCO) to fulfill its mandate better, it needed to be made autonomous.
The law professor stated that EOCO should have the legal capacity to hire and fire, to advertise positions, to have interviews, to appoint its staff, including the Director General and his deputies, in order to fulfill his responsibilities.
Ms. Kbader-Tee made the comments when she hosted a stakeholder meeting organized by EOCO to share information about its operations to the public on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 in Accra.
Professor Atsu Ayee, a political scientist, who also attended the meeting commented on the call for the creation of an independent EOCO.
Ms. Kbader-Tee said that EOCO's loyalty should be to the state and the people of Ghana. The independence and job security of its managers would ensure national gains in the fight against corruption.
"If you look at the legal framework of EOCO, the president, his deputy and all EOCO staff members are appointed by the president. All but two of the Board members are appointed directly or indirectly by the President.
The executive officer may be dismissed "in accordance with his letter of appointment". There is therefore no guarantee of permanence of function for the Executive Director of EOCO. Is it any wonder that there is little or no evidence that EOCO is currently suing current public office holders? Ms. Kbader-Tee explained in an exploder at Myjoyonline.com.
She stated that it was counterproductive for EOCO to sue officials deemed to have caused a financial loss to the state after they left the job, calling it "closing the stable door." only after the horse has taken off. "
"We must prosecute and punish former bureau members for all the crimes they may have committed. But it is also important to prevent losses from happening, whether they are former public servants, public office holders, or private individuals, as it is practically impossible to recover the full value. of the loss, once this amount has elapsed. leave the stable. Do you remember the Woyome affair?
She said it was not whether or not EOCO could sue former public servants, but how often they did it, which indicates the inherent challenges.
"Remember that former public servants were formerly public servants. And those who are prosecuted for alleged crimes relate to crimes allegedly committed while they were "current public officers".
"It is therefore logical that, to successfully prevent" economic and financial losses ", an anti-corruption institution must have the audacity and the ability to investigate and prosecute current and former incumbents of the function. public as well as private persons. So, do not continue to apply on the verge of knowing whether they can or not. Let's see how often they have the facts. We need to review the appointment powers, "she explained in the explaining.
At the same time, Mr. William Nyarko, Executive Director of ACILA, who also attended the one-day event, said that EOCO's independence should be guaranteed by law and practice.
"We need to change the law under which EOCO must submit its reports to the minister. It must change, "he said.
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