Former Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom, Dr. Adomako Kissi, has described the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as a tainted institution in urgent need of rebranding, warning that its current politicised image has eroded public confidence and undermined its effectiveness in Ghana’s anti-corruption fight.
In his remarks, Kissi criticised the agency for lacking neutrality, arguing that its perceived political bias has created a public perception that justice is selectively pursued depending on party affiliation.
“EOCO has become politicised – they must be neutral and consistent to regain public trust,” Kissi stated plainly, calling for a total institutional overhaul that distances the agency from partisan interests.
He argued that EOCO’s credibility would remain in question unless it repositions itself as an independent entity capable of conducting unbiased investigations.
“In other jurisdictions, the body that handles these investigations like the FBI are not too political, and they are consistent over the years. So if the federal guys are after you, it’s not NDC or NPP, and I think that is another aspect that we need to look at”
Dr. Adomako Kissi, Former Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom
Repackaging and Professionalism
Upon his suggestion that EOCO’s damaged public image could only be repaired if the agency repackaged and rebranded itself as an apolitical, professionally competent institution, Kissi stressed that investigations should not proceed without thorough groundwork, which includes verifying accusations and ensuring cases are supported by facts before being forwarded to court.
“I think that when they do that, invariably, a lot of us will be more comfortable when we hear that EOCO is, you know, examining something”
Dr. Adomako Kissi, Former Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom
He noted that many cases could be avoided from reaching the courtroom if the agency conducted proper preliminary investigations internally. That, he argued, would reduce unnecessary “damage to reputations” and save the judiciary’s time.
Kissi shared instances where EOCO’s operations revealed troubling levels of incompetence. According to him, the agency has on occasion summoned individuals only to realise they had mistaken identities or misunderstood the core of the alleged infractions.
“The EOCO people were clueless,” he said of such instances, emphasising that without skilled and well-informed personnel, the agency would continue making avoidable errors that discredit its mandate.
He explained that technical projects such as sea defence or major infrastructure deals require a deep understanding of cost structures and industry standards before officials in charge can be questioned on how they handled the money involved.
Financial and Business Expertise
Kissi challenged the competence of the Attorney General’s Office in assessing certain high-stake financial transactions, arguing that business deals must be reviewed by experts with industry-specific knowledge rather than purely legal training.
“I beg to differ with the attorney general,” he said, stressing that many contract costs, though seemingly large, are justifiable when contextualised within the scale and complexity of the project in question. He cited feasibility studies in multimillion-dollar projects as an example.
“If somebody has quoted $1,000,000 or $100,000,000 for feasibility – the money is big, but for that project, which is maybe a billion dollar project, $1,000,000 is chicken change I mean, in relative terms”
Dr. Adomako Kissi, Former Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom
“The attorney general, forgive me, has his expertise in terms of his legal profoundness but business transactions are also somebody’s expertise,” he added, advising that the Attorney General’s Department must engage seasoned business professionals to assess such financial issues objectively and accurately.
Describing the work of the attorney general’s department on the SkyTrain scandal as having generated too much “noise,” Kissi insisted on the recruitment of “top-tier business analysts and deal experts.”
These people, in his opinion, can guide the office on international business norms and discourage unnecessary alarm over standard industry expenses.
