The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has called on the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine to appear before Parliament to address the operational methods of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The demand follows the controversial arrest of Miracles Dennis Edward Aboagye, the former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD), over alleged financial and procurement irregularities involving approximately GH¢55 million in public funds. Miracles Aboagye has since been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢50 million with three sureties.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Afenyo-Markin condemned the tactics deployed by EOCO during the arrest, describing them as unwarranted and detrimental to the nation’s democratic principles.
While emphasizing that the Minority does not oppose accountability or investigations into the management of public funds, he argued that the “Rambo-style” approach used by the investigative body was highly unacceptable.
The Effutu legislator warned his colleagues that political fortunes can easily shift, stressing the need for state institutions to operate with strict adherence to human rights and the rule of law.
Afenyo-Markin further disclosed that Aboagye was already dealing with severe personal trauma, having recently lost significant household properties to the devastating floods in Accra.
He lamented that EOCO’s “aggressive” handling of the situation had only compounded his distress, describing the state’s approach as unfair and insensitive.
Meanwhile the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has dismissed the Minority Leader’s call for the Attorney General and Minister for Justice to be summoned before Parliament over the arrest.
He maintained that there were no sufficient grounds to compel the Attorney General to appear before the House, rejecting the Minority’s demand for a briefing on the actions of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
Miracles Aboagye has however been released on GH¢ 50 Million bail as EOCO intensifies investigations.
Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
