EOCO can’t ask PPP, APC for their sources of income – Former EC boss

Former Chief Director of the Electoral Commission, Kwame Damoah Agyemang has condemned the decision by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO), to probe into the campaign finances of Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom and Hassan Ayariga, saying the institution has no such powers.

EOCO has sent letters to the Flagbearers of the PPP and the All People’s Congress (APC), giving them up to Wednesday, October 26, to explain the source of funding of aspects of their political campaigns.

EOCO, in the said letter, is demanding Dr. Nduom to explain to it the source of the over GHc1.7million he used to pay for his filing fees and of his parliamentary candidates.

Again, EOCO, stated in the letter to Ayariga that it was interested in his claims that he expended over $6 million to procure vehicles among others. Ayariga made this revelation on Starr Chat on Starr103.5FM recently.

But speaking to Kasapa News, the former EC Chief Director stressed that EOCO has no right under the law to demand from political parties their sources of income as the constitution mandates only the EC to play that function.

“EOCO has no power to insist on the parties submitting their accounts to them. The political parties prepare their audited accounts to the Electoral Commission that is the law. 21 days before elections and within six months after elections, every party is required to render total account of income and expenditure, sources of funding and submit it to the EC. The law does not mention EOCO anywhere so I don’t understand what the EOCO wants to do. I see clearly that the human rights of Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom and Hassan Ayariga are being trampled upon.”