Search
Close this search box.
GBC
GHANA WEATHER

Hardship hits EOCO as it struggles to pay electricity bill

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Pinterest

It has emerged that the State Investigative Body, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), has ran out of cash to the extent that, it’s struggling to purchase fuel for its operations.

The situation, as reported to Parliament is so bad that, “the work of EOCO continues to be thwarted by inadequate funding”, from the State.

For instance, “The Office struggles to pay bills, fuel and transport”.

These were contained in the report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs on the Annual budget estimates of the Office of The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice for the 2019 financial year.

The report mentioned that, the Office lack common office equipment such as photocopies and printers. “The Office sometimes has to resort to other institutions for assistance despite the confidentiality and security concerns.”

The committee however, noted that, the EOCO managed to make a recovery to the tune of GH¢7.8 Million in 2018 but did not benefit from the confiscations together with other state institutions but not on recoveries.

In its recommendation, the Committee said, “based on the current arrangement for the EOCO to benefit from the proceeds from confiscations, same should be done in the case of recoveries to enable the office secure additional funding to support its operations.”

The Committee chaired by Ben Abdullah Banda also observed that the continuous low budgetary   allocations to the Ministry and it’s Agencies over the years have had serious effect on their capacity to deliver on their mandate.

Meanwhile, the House has approved the sum of one hundred and thirty-five million, nine hundred and eighty-three thousand, seven hundred and fourteen Ghana cedis, (GH¢135,983,714.00) for the activities of the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice for the year 2019.

Story by Edzorna Francis Mensah.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT