The Executive Director of Economic and Organized Crime (EOCO) COP, Mrs Maame Yaa Tiwaa Adoo-Danquah has emphasized the need for closer collaboration between EOCO and the media to enable easy accessibility of information.
She said media engagement is one of the pillars of the 5 year Strategic Plan of EOCO hence such collaborative effort was urgently needed to create harmonious relationship between the two institutions.
COP Tiwaa Addo Danquah was speaking at the Maiden Media Soiree organized by EOCO in Accra on Thursday (August 23,2023).
Director General of EOCO, Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Danquah addressing the Media
“This is a very good opportunity for you to know what we do… One of the pillars of strategic plan is to engage with the media so that we can collaborate”, she maintained.
The Executive Director further said her priority is to leave a legacy where EOCO would be seen as a collaborative Office rather than adversarial in the discharge of its constitutionally mandated duties.
The former CID boss who commended the media for support extended to the Office so far, however expressed worry over some of the media who often publish stories about ongoing investigations being undertaken by the Office.
She explained that such publications often gives hints to suspects under investigations leading them to abscond adding that “but it is our duty to make sure Investors’ investments are protected”.
She later expressed optimism that with this media engagement, such acts by some of the media will be a thing of the past whilst EOCO also does it’s best to make publishable information readily available to the media.
Touching on the 5Year Strategic Plan, the former CID boss revealed that the 5-Year Strategic Plan was launched a few months ago was aimed at recovering and managing proceeds of crime worth GH¢350 million by June 2028.
A senior Officer at EOCO Lawyer Leo Anthony Asiamah, giving an overview of the Five year Strategic plan said the 52 page and 126 paragraph plan is anchored on four strategic priorities which include the EOCO partnering law enforce¬ment agencies and other relevant institutions and develop the office to be operationally resilient and sustainable to help disrupt organ¬ised criminal activities.
He said the strategic plan was expected to bring some significant improve¬ments to the internal processes of EOCO whilst also making the Office more responsive to its mandate through the implementation of a robust asset recovery and manage¬ment regime.
For his part, the GJA President Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour expressed GJA ‘a a commitment to collaborate with EOCO in order to make information accessible to the media.
In his view, this would equip the media with information about the office and prevent publication of misinformation.
He urged the media to be guided by the ethics of the profession whilst ensuring that they do their work without fear or favour.
The GJA President later assured the EOCO Boss of his unwavering commitment to support EOCO deliver on its mandate.
The Soiree drew together the movers and shakers of the media front in Ghana including former Editor of Graphic Mr. Kobby Asmah, former head of News of TV3 Mr. Gabriel Bosompem, Mr. Kwesi Pratt amongst others.
On the side of the EOCO were, Deputy Director, Intelligence and Monitoring, Madam Jacqueline Aba Poku and Deputy Director, Operations, Lawyer Bashiru Abdulai Dapilah.
Source:www.senaradioonline.com
