EOCO's probe 'witch-hunt' - APC

The All People’s Congress (APC) has described the move by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate the source of funding for flag bearer Hassan Ayariga’s political campaign as “witch-hunting”.

The EOCO wants Mr Ayariga and Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) to confirm, in writing, the sources of their incomes for their respective political campaigns and have given them up to Wednesday, October 26, 2016, to respond to the request.

The EOCO’s letter to Dr Ayariga read: “The office has followed with keen interest your foray into the political landscape of Ghana and your frustration with the recent decision of the Electoral Commission bordering on your disqualification.

“The office has analysed your statements and comments made to the media and circulated on social media. In one such statement, you are heard to say that you expended over $6 million to procure vehicles, among others. The statement is of great interest to the office.”

The letter stated that EOCO would be grateful if Mr Ayariga could confirm, in writing, the sources of the total amount he had expended, including the amount of $6 million he was on record to have exhausted.

Reacting to this on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class 91.3FM on Monday October 24, APC General Secretary Razak Kojo Opoku wondered why the EOCO had singled out the APC and the PPP to disclose their sources of funding when many parties picked forms to contest in the election.

“So far as the 2016 election is concerned, it is not only the APC and the PPP that put themselves out there to contest the presidential elections. There were 23 presidential aspirants who went to pick forms to contest. 17 returned their nomination forms, 15 made an effort to pay their filing fees. So if the EOCO wants to be fair and for us to get confidence in them that that they are not doing witch-hunting or they are not being manipulated by forces, they could have extended this invitation to all the presidential aspirants to explain to EOCO how they raised their monies as well as all the parliamentary candidates across the country so that we can say that as part of EOCO’s contribution to deepen our multi-party democracy, they are putting all candidates, both presidential and parliamentary, to check as far as accountability and transparency is concerned...” he stated.

He, however, disclosed the party would furnish the EOCO with all the information they seek by the Wednesday deadline.