EOCO investigates staff endowment fund misappropriation at EC

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has commenced investigations into alleged misused of staff endowment funds at the Electoral Commission (EC).

Deputy Chairperson in Charge of Corporate Services, Georgina Opoku Amankwah among other staff, has been asked to proceed on leave.

Also asked to proceed on leave is the Chief Accountant, Kwaku Owusu Agyei-Larbi and Dr. Joseph Kwaku Asamoah, the Director of Finance.

EOCO in a letter dated, July 4, 2017 addressed to the EC Chairperson, Mrs. Charlotte Osei demanded that the three be made to proceed on leave to pave the way for investigations into “the loss of about GH¢480,000 from the Endowment Fund at the Electoral Commission.”

The letter said the three were key persons to assist with the investigations.

The letter was signed by ACP Mr. K.K. Amoah (retired), acting Executive Director of EOCO.

There has been uneasy calm at the commission since last year over the staff endowment fund.

Some staff who have retired and did not receive their payments promptly raised red flags whilst others said they received something lesser than what they were entitled to.

There were some explanations that the funds had been invested and that it had to mature before payments could be made.

Meanwhile, the Head of Communications at the Electoral Commission (EC), Eric Kofi Dzakpasu speaking on an Accra Based Radio, Citi FM, said the order for the three officials to proceed on leave does not mean that they have been found culpable.

“The Chairperson of EC has written to the three top officials to proceed on leave not because they have been found culpable or because they have been accused of wrongdoing but per the positions they occupy in the scheme of things and the need to ensure integrity of the investigation processes, they have been requested by the Chairpersons to proceed on leave while investigations go on,” he added.

“What I know is that EOCO is investigating matters related to staff endowment fund where we have some gap in the deposits which must be paid to the staff from the deductions of the staff. As a result of which EOCO has started investigations and all persons who are related to the issue have been called for questioning… The commission is fully cooperating with EOCO as far as this investigation is concerned,” Mr. Dzakpasu said.