A sensational twist has rocked the ongoing scandal engulfing the mismanagement of funds at the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO)’s exhibit account.
In a dramatic development, former Director General of the unit Maame Tiwa Addo Dankwa has pivoted the blame towards none other than ex-Chief of Staff, Madam Frema Osei Opare.
Explosive evidence laid out by Tiwa Addo Dankwa indicates a collaboration between herself and Opare to divert funds from the exhibit account into EOCO’s operational funds account without adhering to due process.
Insiders close to our probe reveal that the necessary protocols for handling proceeds of crime were disregarded during this unethical scheme.
Documents obtained through Tiwa Addo Dankwa’s proxies shed light on this murky financial affair. Notably, a confidential memo dated November 5, 2024, discloses Dankwa’s request for GHc5 million from the exhibit account for operational purposes.
Despite warnings against making major decisions during the transition period post-election, Opare greenlighted the request on December 13, 2024.
This startling revelation adds a new layer of complexity to the unfolding narrative, with conflicting accounts challenging the truth.
As investigations into this financial debacle intensify, all eyes are fixed on Frema Osei Opare, stirring fresh commotion in the power circles.
The New Republic (TNR) had unearthed a shocking scheme that saw a staggering GhC33.5 million siphoned from EOCO’s exhibit account, which is an account at Bank of Ghana where proceeds of crime are lodged.
It is interesting to note that, between May and December 2024 alone, an alarming GhC16.5 million was transferred from the exhibit account to an operational account of EOCO without proper oversight, our investigation has established.
This money was then withdrawn for undisclosed purposes, including purportedly financing the 14th annual Commonwealth anti-corruption conference held in Ghana in 2024.
However, investigations have revealed that a significant portion of the conference’s expenses were covered by donations and the commonwealth Secretariat in charge of Anti-Corruption.
The question however is, of particular concern is the withdrawal of GhC5 million on December 13, 2024, especially after the Presidential elections and in breach of spending restrictions imposed by the transitional committee which Frema is a member after the NPP’s electoral defeat.
EOCO workers say aside the illegality of the conduct of their former boss, they are shocked that they could spend such huge amounts on needless issues whilst officers of EOCO in the regions had to queue for hours to use computers because they have only one computer.
According to an officer in one of the regions, the office was able to purchase about 4 brand new Nissan Pickups and two new saloon cars and other items for the office with GHC 10 million support from Bank of Ghana, so they can imagine what a whopping Ghc 16 million which was used to organize a conference could have done for the office.
“But how do you take money link to a crime under investigation? Monies that are not the property of Ghana government or EOCO to organize a conference. Why? Using illegal money to organize corruption conference is ironic”
Furthermore, the depletion of EOCO’s exhibit account raises questions about the agency’s ability to meet its obligations to complainants and refund any outstanding taxes to companies under investigation should they win a case in court.
Had the misused GhC33.5 million been allocated towards procuring essential equipment and resources for EOCO’s operations, the current dire situation could have been mitigated.
Contrary to our claim that the exhibit account is left with only approximately GhC15 million, a letter written by Maame Tiwa Addo Dankwa to the Chief of Staff left in the exhibit account as at November 5th 2024 was rather Twelve Million Four Hundred and Seventy-Eight thousand three hundred and-six Ghana cedis and four pesewas (GHC12.478,336,04), from which she has since withdrawn GhC5million Ghana cedis.
The depletion of the Exhibit account means that there would be insufficient fund available to address the mounting financial liabilities facing the organization.