General News of Sunday, 11 November 2018

Source: 3news.com

Akufo-Addo should have sacked EOCO boss after suspension fiasco – Kwame Jantuah

Kwame Jantuah Kwame Jantuah

Private legal practitioner Kwame Jantuah has stated that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo should have fired the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), ACP K.K Amoah for suspending EOCO Eastern Regional Director.

ACP K.K Amoah suspended the Regional Director Fred Dzeny for what he described as unethical utterances.

He had called on President Akufo-Addo to prosecute his appointees found culpable of corrupt practices in order to cement his commitment towards fighting corruption in the country.

Mr. Dzeny made the call while addressing patrons at a forum held under the theme “Youth in the fight against corruption”.

His suspension attracted criticisms, and President Akufo-Addo after learning about the situation ordered his reinstatement.

Speaking on the issue on the first edition of TV3’s Key Points programme on Saturday, Mr. Jantuah noted that the President is the only one with the power to hire and fire, hence, his reinstatement of Mr. Dzeny is in the right direction.

He said the Executive Director, ACP K.K Amoah should not have suspended the Eastern Regional Director in the first place.

This, he said, is because Mr. Dzeny did not breach any ethical provision with the comments he made

According to him, EOCO is mandated to fight crime and corruption, hence, Mr. Dzeny’s call for the President to prosecute state officials found guilty is within his mandate.

Mr. Jantuah went on to say that ACP K.K Amoah himself should have been fired by the President for taking such an action.

“I am fully supportive of what the President has done, he appointed this gentleman, and he reinstated him.”

“In fact, the President should have gone further to sack the boss himself, because that is what EOCO is established to do,” he noted.

“Don’t you fight corruption? Isn’t that what he is talking about? So what did he do wrong?” Mr. Jantuah quizzed.

He further called on President Akufo-Addo to send a strong warning to all officials to perform their duties devoid of corruption.