Seven-member SFO Board inaugurated

Accra, April 26, GNA - A seven-member Board of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was on Tuesday inaugurated in Accra with a call on them to discharge their duties without fear, favour or political bias. The Board chaired by Justice G.E.K. Aikins, a Retired Supreme Court Judge and a former Attorney General, replaces the former Board, which was not reconstituted after its full four-year term ended in 1999.

The other members are Mrs Elizabeth Mills Robertson, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Administration; Mrs Elizabeth Fori Dwumah, a Retired Chief State Attorney and Colonel Isaac Kwasi Akuoko, Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board.

The rest are Mr Theophilus Asharki Cudjoe, Acting Executive Director of the SFO; Mrs Gladys Getrude Aikins, Chief State Attorney at the Attorney General's Department and Mr G. P. Ansah of the Ministry of The Interior.

Mr J. Ayikoi Otoo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, who inaugurated the Board, told them to ensure that the SFO was vigorous in its functions, as it had a critical role to play not only in governance but also in the management of the country's finances.

He told them that their inauguration would enhance the Government's efforts at fighting corruption, saying three bills passed into law by the Government - Financial Administration Act, Internal Audit Agency Act and Public Procurement Act - had sections dealing with fraud, bribery and corruption.

"I need not stress that you owe it to this country, to the President and to your own professional integrity to make decisions that will make the office a critical contributor to the Government's good governance objective which is one of the visions of President (John Agyekum) Kufuor as captured in his State of the Nation's Address."

The Minister also revealed that Cabinet had given approval for the Whistleblowers Bill to be laid before Parliament when it resumed in May. The SFO was established pursuant to Act 466, as part of the Public Service of Ghana, tasked to investigate suspected offence, monitor economic activities and take measures to prevent the commission of crimes.

The Chairman of the Board expressed his appreciation to President Kufuor and gave the assurance that the Board would ensure that the SFO attained its full potential.