The Member of Parliament for Suame, John Darko, has described the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as a political institution, accusing the anti-graft agency of being drawn into partisan politics following the arrest of Dennis Miracles Aboagye, a senior aide to NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, Mr. Darko said the handling of Miracles’ arrest raises concerns about the manner in which state institutions are being used in Ghana’s political environment.
“We need to elevate the kind of politics we are doing in this country. EOCO right now is a political institution. It is politics that is being played there,” he said.
Mr. Darko questioned why EOCO arrested Miracles upon his return to Ghana when he had previously honoured invitations from the office.
“This gentleman went out of the country, came back on his own volition. And like all reasonable persons in this country have said, you could have easily invited him and if you wanted to charge him, charge him,” he stated.
He argued that investigative agencies must ensure fairness and due process in handling cases involving public officials, warning that the politicisation of state institutions could weaken public confidence.
“We need to push these state institutions to do the right thing. Now in this country, it has become fashionable that if you’re an NPP person, you can be arrested and all the members in the NDC will be happy. I’m sure it was reversed under the previous regime. We don’t have to do that,” he added.
The Suame MP, however, acknowledged the need for public officials suspected of wrongdoing to face investigations, stressing that the fight against corruption must continue regardless of political affiliation.
According to EOCO, Dennis Miracles Aboagye’s arrest was linked to investigations into alleged financial and procurement-related irregularities involving about GH¢55 million at the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD) Secretariat, an agency Miracles served as an Executive Secretary during the previous administration.
The office said the arrest was necessary to facilitate its inquiries and ensure the former government official availed himself for the process. Miracles has, however, been released on bail to the tune of GH¢50 million with three sureties
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