Domelevo, EOCO impasse threat to corruption fight – Yaw Oppong

A private legal practitioner, Yaw Oppong has observed that an out of court settlement of the tussle between the Auditor General and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is the way forward to resolve the impasse.

He explained that it would be prudent for the two parties to adopt an approach in their own interest, asking the powers that be such as the president and Attorney General to consider stepping in and appealed for an end to the turmoil.

“They should ceasefire for the court to determine the issue but I wish the issue is withdrawn for an amicable solution because it affects national security and fight against corruption, If Mr. Domelevo’s rights have been violated, it can still be addressed amicably among all stakeholders. Attorney General should take up the issue and invite them for a meeting,” Mr Oppong stressed.

EOCO began investigating the Audit Service following a petition it received from a political pressure group Alliance for Accountable Governance on allegations of procurement breaches.

In a letter written to the investigative body by the Auditor General, Mr Domelevo indicated that EOCO had no legal mandate to probe him, a position he is currently seeking redress in court.

But Mr Oppong is convinced the tussle if not settled in an appropriate manner could give public officers who breach the law the confidence to continually engage in such crimes and charged both parties to rise above power play for cool heads to prevail.

“With the pending issue, a declaration can go either way, the moment that happens, seemingly bad blood between the two parties may continue, beneficiaries will now be alleged criminals or those who violated procurement laws and corruption.

“An out of court settlement can always be done among parties, before they take any steps, that should be done to send a signal to all potential violators of the law, no bad blood among the persons but should let us see they corporate and coordinate, none of them can work without support of the other,” Mr Oppong indicated.