MyJoyOnline author calls for oversight of Ghana’s anti-corruption agencies
In Ghana, a columnist for MyJoyOnline gave a positive but qualified assessment of the first 18 months of President John Mahama’s anti-corruption policy. In his view, the administration deserves recognition for investigations and criminal prosecutions, terminating costly contracts, including SML, and public procurement reforms.
At the same time, the author noted that 81 of 107 major contracts were concluded without competition, with their total value exceeding 73 billion Ghanaian cedis. Among the positive steps, he also cited a reduction in the number of ministerial appointments, a presidential code of conduct, and data published by EOCO on recovered funds.
Concerns over EOCO’s actions
Separately, the author raised the issue of the Ghanaian Economic and Organised Crime Office’s (EOCO) treatment of people connected to the PDS investigation. He claimed that in April, Philip Kwame Asare Ayesu was held in custody for two days, while his bail was initially set at 50 million Ghanaian cedis and later increased to 100 million cedis.
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The author also claims that dozens of Ayesu’s corporate and personal bank accounts were frozen. Citing court documents in a lawsuit against EOCO, he said that Ayesu’s lawyers were also detained and, since May, had been required to report to the agency three times a week. According to the author’s account, the documents also referred to funds being transferred from frozen accounts to EOCO accounts before a court established criminal liability.
The agency’s position and a call for oversight
As stated in the column, EOCO explained these measures by suspicious transactions, the nearly complete withdrawal of funds, and the risk that they could be moved out. The author stressed that investigations into economic crimes require effective tools, but bail must not become punishment, and suspects retain the presumption of innocence.
In the author’s view, the fight against corruption should be based on professional investigations, evidence-based charges, and the lawful recovery of assets. He called for close oversight of EOCO, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, BNI, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the Auditor-General, Parliament, and the Attorney-General.
