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General News of Thursday, July 11, 2019
Source: dailyguidenetwork.comThe Economic and Organized Crime Bureau (EOCO) recovered the proceeds
2019-07-11
12 convictions handed down by EOCO on some 102 cases prosecuted
The Economic and Organized Crime Bureau (EOCO) recovered a proceeds of financial fraud amounting to 99,165,369.29 GH ¢.
The amount represents recoveries and other proceeds of crime, such as default taxes, royalties, unearned wages, collection of fraud by false pretenses, theft and money laundering.
The funds recovered between 2014 and March 2019 are resources that would otherwise have been lost to state institutions such as the Ghana Revenue Authority, the National Petroleum Authority, BOST, the Ghana Tourism Authority, MASLOC, the Bursary Secretariat Studies and the Comptroller and Accountant General Department.
Police Commissioner Frank Adu-Poku (Executive Director), Executive Director of EOCO, spoke at the first stakeholder engagement on EOCO's activities on the theme: "Fighting organized crime in Ghana – a shared responsibility ", said in total The organization had investigated 1,855 cases of tax evasion, false pretense fraud, money laundering, prohibited cyber activities, bank fraud, wage fraud and trafficking in human beings.
Of these, 102 cases investigated by EOCO were prosecuted, four of the accused were acquitted and 12 convictions were issued.
Acting on new organizational initiatives in the fight against organized crime, the Executive Director of EOCO said his office had asked other groups to collaborate in the fight against economic and organized crime and raise public awareness through its awareness programs on prohibited cyber activities.
"We recognize that the office can do more with the necessary demand," he said.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice Gloria Afua Akuffo, in her keynote speech, congratulated EOCO on this initiative, adding that it would bring transparency and build public confidence in the organization.
However, she warned the organization that as long as it wants to be open, it should be careful not to give in to pressure from the population to pursue cases without the necessary evidence.
The event was sponsored by the EU-funded Accountability, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Program, in partnership with the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) and the African Union. Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
Representatives from the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Tranparency International, Institute of Economic Affairs, Star Ghana, CHRAJ, NCCA, PIAC, Office of Special Prosecutor, Ghana Police, Financial Intelligence Center, Bank of Ghana, Ghana Immigration Service and Food and Drugs Authority.
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