Citi News sources have confirmed the recall of the Eastern Regional Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), Fred Dzeny, who was suspended by the Executive Director of the organization.
The sources say top government officials are unhappy with the EOCO Boss’ action, and considers it reckless.
EOCO suspends director for asking Nana Addo to prosecute corrupt appointees
The EOCO Boss signed a letter suspending Mr. Dzeny on the basis that, he had called on President Akufo-Addo to prosecute corrupt government appointees to prove the government’s commitment to fighting corruption.
But in a statement issued by EOCO and signed by its Executive Director, ACP K. K. Amoah (Rtd), the office said the comments made by Mr. Dzeny through his personal utterances were unprofessional, hence the suspension.
Some Ghanaians have criticized the suspension, saying it was a dent on the image of a government that came into office with a promise to fight corruption head-on.
Prosecute your own appointees – Dzeny
At a public forum themed ‘Youth in the fight against corruption’, Fred Dzeny mentioned that government cannot win the fight against corruption if it doesn’t deal with persons within the government accused of corrupt practices.
“When you look at the corruption cases in Ghana, it is not just politicians who are corrupt, the public servants, civil servants they are all corrupt. When you look at it, it is the Chief Directors who prepare contract documents and other things so if we are blaming the Politicians, it is not right, it is the public servants generally.”
“Before we can fight corruption in Ghana, the ruling government should be ready first and foremost to prosecute their own…then they can also have the guts to prosecute their own”, he added.
Corruption must first be tackled within political party set-up – Spio
National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer hopeful, Ekwow Spio Garbrah, has urged political parties to put in place mechanisms to deal with financial malfeasance.
“Political parties in general, not just NDC, must have mechanisms with their own party that identifies miscreants, people who misbehave, especially people who misbehave with money,” he told Citi News.
Mr. Spio Garbrah said checking these diversions at the party level could have positive effects on governance.
“The party itself must have mechanisms for disciplining people who can be proven to have diverted party resources because the problem with corruption in Ghana is that it often begins in the party. When party executives misbehave and nothing happens to them, the same individuals often end up in government and then continue their misbehavior.”
Full statement by EOCO
PRESS RELEASE – PROSECUTE YOUR CORRUPT OFFICIALS FIRST-EOCO TO GOVERNMENT
The attention of the Headquarters of Economic and Organised Crime Office has been drawn to a publication in the Ghanaweb caption – “prosecute your corrupt officials first-EOCO to government”
EOCO as an institution dissociates itself from the said publication. The statement made by the Eastern Regional Director, Fred Dzeny is an expression of his personal view and has nothing to do with the Office.
The Office considers his conduct as against the ethical and professional standards of the Office. He has therefore been suspended and the matter referred to the appropriate unit for investigation.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie|citinewsroom.com|Ghana
