Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area, has handed over a 20-acre land to management and authorities of the Economic Organised Crime Office (EOCO) at Akyem Nsutam in the Fanteakwa District of the Eastern Region.
The land which was reclaimed by the traditional authority under the supervision of the Chief of Nsutam after it was heavily mined is to be used for the construction of an academy and training school for EOCO.
At a short presentation and handing over ceremony at the site, Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin urged the management of EOCO to quickly put the land into use.
“We have already had lengthy discussions and I do not want to talk much. We all know how important lands are in this country and the chiefs and people of Nsutam really cherish this land. So I want you to quickly organise yourselves and start the project because the youth are ready and eager to assist you in making sure everything goes on well”.
On his part, the Deputy Executive Director of EOCO in charge of operations, Nana Antwi in an interview with Citi News expressed excitement over the kind gesture.
“We are really happy with this gesture by Okyehene because EOCO has gone through many changes and cycles and this is how far we have come. We had options in Accra and other areas with 2 plots, 3 plots and others but with the kind of project we want to undertake is the best size of land and in fact, we are really happy “.
“The construction of this training school and academy will not only improve the living conditions of this area but the youth will also be engaged during the construction to provide labour. Others will also be taken through training to work at our canteen and catering department after construction “.
He added that, “we will engage engineers as soon as possible who will visit the site and also get to work immediately to seek funds for this project “.
EOCO also said public and private procurement breaches and scandals which has been occurring in the country will soon be a thing of the past with the construction of its academy and training school.
According to the authorities who are worried about recent procurement scandals in both the public and private sectors, lack of education and training on procurement procedures contributes to the breaches being perpetuated by both public and private officers.
“Procurement scandals and breaches have been with us for a long time and at EOCO we are not happy with it. You go to even smaller institutions and you find out that day in day out procurement breaches occur. In both private and public sectors, these breaches occur and the construction of this academy will give us the opportunity to invite public officers and school them on procurement procedures and let them know the kind of things they do on a daily basis which contribute to breaches that they are not aware of.”