EOCO suspends Regional Director for ‘advising’ Akufo-Addo to prosecute his corrupt officials

The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), has suspended its Eastern Regional Director, Fred Dzeny for asking President Akufo-Addo to show leadership in the fight against corruption by prosecuting corrupt officials within his government.

Mr. Dzeny, according to an earlier publication by Starr News is said to have suggested the fight against corruption will only be successful if the ruling government “prosecute their own corrupt officials before they prosecute their political opponents”.

“The ruling government should be ready first and foremost to prosecute their own when the slightest incident of corruption is raised against the ruling government then they can also get the guts to prosecute the opposition,” the EOCO official is quoted to have said on the side-lines of a roundtable discussion on ‘The Youth in the Fight Against Corruption in Ghana” held in Koforidua.

Mr. Dzeny further bemoaned the challenges EOCO is facing which according to him are impeding the fight against corruption.

He called on government to entool anti-corruption institutions in the country to help them effectively discharge their duties.

“We have serious challenges but all due to the economy but we believe when the economy picks up we will be well resourced but as at now the current state of the economy, this is what the government can do but I don’t think it is enough for us to really Police the system,” he said.

Reacting to the publication in a statement copied to www.ghanaweb.com, the Headquarters of the Economic and Organized Crime Office has, dissociated itself from the Eastern Regional EOCO boss’ comments saying “his personal view has nothing to do with the office”.

The EOCO further described Mr. Dzeny’s comment as unethical and unprofessional which is against the standards of the office he holds.

“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,” the statement reveals.