The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament says it will soon require the presence of personnel from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) at its public hearings to enhance accountability.
According to the Chairperson, Abena Osei Asare, the move is in response to a growing trend where some public officials attempt to evade scrutiny by claiming their financial infractions have been reported to EOCO—claims she says are often untrue and unsubstantiated.
She explained that, going forward, EOCO representatives will be present during proceedings to verify such claims in real time and put an end to what she described as “vague and misleading excuses.”
The decision follows a frustrating pattern observed during the Committee’s three-day zonal public hearing in the Western Region.
In several instances, public officials deflected further questioning by insisting their cases had already been referred to EOCO or cleared by the agency. However, these claims were rarely backed by official documentation.
Chairperson Abena Osei Asare expressed concern that some institutions are using EOCO as a “shield” to avoid accountability, despite failing to provide any proof.
To address this, she insists EOCO officials must now be present at the hearings, making it difficult for anyone to hide behind what she termed “phantom investigations.”
