"We Don't Intimidate" - EOCO Boss To GUTA (PICS)

Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah has clarified that her outfit does not intimate people it invites to its office as purported by many.

The Executive Director made these known when the leadership of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) paid a courtesy call on her in Accra on Monday.

Speaking at the event, COP Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah said "I want to state that we don't intimate people we invite here. We only extend invitation to people for them to come and clarify whether they are on track or not"

"We will not collapse your businesses. We have a mandate and our mandate expects a lot from us"

The Executive Director also hinted that the doors of EOCO are open adding that persons who have little understanding of their mandate can walk in for further education.

COP Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah revealed that her outfit has been organising awareness programmes in which some traders were educated on tax and other matters.

"When we invite you, take it as a friendly match not world cup. We are not here to scare or intimidate you"

"Going forward, we can have a training program for the leadership so that when the leadership are aware of things, you can go on to educate members. So it will be sort of train the trainers"

On his part, President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr Joseph Obeng said "Looking at the name, EOCO, once you are invited, that alone puts fear in you. The tone of the letter receives by some members placed"

The GUTA President called EOCO to hasten slowly with its invitation adding that once its members receive enough education, it will not only help them to comply when invited but also kill that fear of being intimidated.

Some Executives of GUTA who were present at the meeting said "People understand our language more than EOCO. When you speak through us, they understand well. So this comes to education"

They called for a collaboration with the leadership of GUTA and EOCO.

The Ghana Union of Traders Association is an umbrella body that regulates the activities of trades in Ghana.

The body also lobbies the Government of Ghana on issues that affect traders in the country.

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) was established by the Economic and Organised Crime Act, 2010 (Act 804) in 2010.

As a specialised agency, EOCO monitors and investigated economic and organised crime.

Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that the governing board of EOCO under section 4, Act 804 consists of a Chaitperson, an Executive Director, one representative of the Inspector-General of Police not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner, and one representative of the Narcotics Control Board not below the rank of Director.

The others include; one representative of the Attorney-General's Office not below the rank of Principal State Attorney, one representative of the Ghana Revenue Authority not below the rank of Director, one lawyer in private practice with at least ten years experience nominated by the Ghana Bar Association.

Others are; one Chartered Accountant with at least ten years experience nominated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants and one person with intelligence background and not below the rank of Director nominated by the Minister responsible for National Security.

Below are some pictures:

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith