The Head of Communications at the Electoral Commission (EC), Eric Kofi Dzakpasu has said that some three top officials of the commission have proceeded on leave in order to protect the integrity of investigations by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).

EOCO is investigating some officials of the Commission over the loss of GHc480, 000 which could not be accounted for from the Commission’s Endowment Fund for its staff.

Documents sighted by Citi News reveal that the Commission’s Deputy Chairperson in-charge of Finance and Administration, Georgina Opoku Amankwah, Chief Accountant, Kwaku Owusu Agyei-Larbi and  Finance Officer, Joseph Kwaku Asamoah have been asked to proceed on leave pending further investigations.

Shedding more light on the development on Eyewitness News Mr. Dzakpasu 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,” he added.

A letter written to the Chair of the EC, Charlotte Osei, dated July 4th, 2017 from the Acting Executive Director of EOCO, ACP K. K Amoah(Rtd) and sighted by Citi News said “the suspects are assisting in investigations.”

Public Accounts Committee welcomes EOCO’s investigation

Also speaking on Eyewitness News, a Member of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee welcomed the investigation by EOCO, saying those found culpable should not be spared.

“I think it’s very appropriate that investigations are carried into the matter…indeed if at the end of the day, it is found that monies meant for worker’s provident fund have been touched in a very wrong way and in an inappropriate manner, I think that those involved must be held to book and dealt with in accordance of the law,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin