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Posts Tagged ‘FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE’

EOCO REITERATES ITS COMMITMENT TO THE SEIZURE, CONFISCATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PROCEEDS OF CRIME IN GHANA

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has reiterated its commitment to the identification and tracing, seizure, forfeiture, confiscation and management of proceeds of crime. This was hushed during a visit by a 5-man delegation from the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for West Africa (ARINWA) to the Management of the EOCO on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

The Team led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Mr. Kwaku Dua, one of the Focal points of ARINWA, had a meeting with Management of EOCO to discuss matters relating to the asset recovery climate in the West African sub-region.

The President of ARINWA, Mr. Jacinto Fernando dos Canto, in his remarks noted that all levels of Asset recovery are very complex and require meticulous work and collaboration on all fronts. It was for this reason that ARINWA was formed to promote information sharing and also to strengthen the essential bodies in the fight against trans-border crimes within the sub-region.

The team citing a recent report, noted that Ghana has comprehensive laws on asset forfeiture and recovery albeit scattered in different statutes. It however has much to do in the area of management of these assets.

The Deputy Executive Director/Intelligence & Monitoring of EOCO, Aba J. Opoku Esq., in her response, educated the team on the National Asset Recovery Task force launched in Accra in 2022 and EOCO’s role as the lead in the recovery and asset management charge in Ghana.

Following from that, the team from EOCO suggested that ARINWA also direct some of its training toward the Judiciary to help them better appreciate the importance of non-conviction based forfeiture and how they can assist law enforcement agencies like EOCO to fulfill their mandate.

The meeting concluded with both institutions reiterating their commitment to working together to create a united front in the fight against trans-national organised crime in the West African sub-region.

ARINWA is an informal network established in 2014 for information exchange on asset recovery, confiscation and money laundering in West Africa. They also advise on and facilitate mutual legal assistance, share good practice, and raise awareness with appropriate law enforcement and judicial authorities on the importance of developing all aspects of tackling proceeds of crime.

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EOCO LAUNCHES FIVE YEARS STRATEGIC PLAN

The Economic and Organise Crime Office (EOCO) has launched it five-year strategic plan that seeks to revamp the mission and vision statements and again communicate a clear direction for the Office.

Speaking at the launch on Friday, July 14 2023, the Executive Director of EOCO, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah stated that, without a question, EOCO’s new strategic plan represents a paradigm shift. She further stated that the comprehensive document would offer the necessary direction to ensure the production of consistent and long lasting results for the Office.

COP MYT Addo-Danquah explained that “overall, the strategic plan, is expected to bring some significant improvements to the internal processes of EOCO”. She added that it would succinctly help the communication of a clear direction for the Office, over the course of the next five years”

According to the Executive Director, the Strategic Plan outlines doable actions for the Office to improve its responsiveness to its mandate by putting in place a strong asset recovery and management system, using contemporary technology, developing enough human resources, and cultivating pertinent relationships.

The Executive Director thanked the GIZ Governance for Inclusive Programme, which is co-funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO), for funding and providing the technical support in the drafting of the five-year strategic plan for the Office. She specifically thanked the GIZ Technical Advisor, Mr. Sampson Kwakwa for his support and valuable inputs during the development of the strategic plan and the Lead Consultant, Mr. Michael Ohene-Effah for bringing this Strategic Plan to life.

The Deputy Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Hon. Madam Diana Asonaba Dapaah, in her key note address said the newly launched EOCO five-year strategic plan would serve as a blueprint and assessment tool to measure the agency’s overall performance.

She commended the Governing Board and Management of EOCO for providing the much-needed leadership and direction which has steered the Office in the right direction in the recent past.

Some high-profiled personalities who graced the occasion and shared some solidarity messages with EOCO were representatives from Ghana Police Service, Narcotics Control Commission, Office of the Special Prosecutor, Financial Intelligence Centre, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, and Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition.

Also present at the launch were members of the Governing Board, Management, Regional Directors, Heads of Units of EOCO and the Strategic Plan Working Group.

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