There’s no basis for EOCO to seek A-G’s advice – Senanu

Edem Senanu, Co-chair of Citizen Movement Against Corruption, has questioned the basis for the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to seek advice from the Attorney-General’s office in the matter of Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s alleged money laundering case.

His comments come after the Office of the Attorney-General advised EOCO not to initiate any move to investigate money laundering in the dealings of the former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah.

Upon a request for advice by EOCO on the matter, the Attorney-General’s office, in a letter dated April 25, 2024 and copied to EOCO, said it found that the OSP did not submit the report on its collaborative investigation to EOCO.

Additionally, the office noted the OSP has not responded to EOCO’s request for its findings.

According to the Attorney General’s office, the docket presented to EOCO only contains the OSP’s letter transmitting the docket, the diary of action, statements taken during the investigation, and letters written by the OSP to other institutions like the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and banks for inquiries.

Speaking on on Thursday, May 2, Edem Senanu indicated that the work of EOCO, as backed by law, allows them to investigate any alleged financial malfeasance.

“I don’t find the basis for EOCO having to seek the advice of the Attorney-General.

The law governing the work of EOCO mandates them to investigate and when it gets to prosecution they can they can then decide to consult the Attorney-General for advice.

“EOCO has not, as it were, executed its primary responsibility of investigating and yet they are rushing to the A-G when it has not reached prosecution.”

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“I cannot understand why they’d resort to the A-G’s and in the context of their law, which includes the Anti-Money Laundering Law, Section 1(3)…there is every reason under the Anti-Money Laundering Law, which EOCO has a responsibility to, that by now they should have taken action,” he stated.

According to the anti-corruption crusader, EOCO has failed to perform its constitutionally mandated function, suggesting that “there could be something going on” to shield the embattled former Sanitation Minister.