EOCO announces new initiative “Lifestyle Audits” targeting celebrities and wealthy individuals
Shatta Wale and Hajia4Real
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has announced its plans to launch lifestyle audits which targets celebrities and individuals who are suspected of amassing wealth through questionable means.
This decision comes in the wake of Ghanaian social media influencer and musician Mona Montrage, also known as Hajia4reall, pleading guilty in a $2 million romance scam case. The incident has raised concerns about the Ghanaian authorities’ perceived inability to effectively combat the proliferation of illicit enrichment.
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In an interview on JoyNews’ Upfront, Edward Cudjoe, the head of Administration and Investigations at EOCO, revealed that the organization is currently in the process of initiating lifestyle audits for individuals with unexplained riches. Cudjoe emphasized EOCO’s intention to depart from the existing law, which mandates that a person must be a subject of investigation before being questioned about the source of their wealth.
He stated, “We are taking the lead by ourselves and submitting proposals for amending the law to align it with international standards. This will ensure that any gaps in your financial profile are supported by your earnings. If there are any inconsistencies, the obligation is on the individual to explain the origin of those resources to law enforcement.”
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Former Auditor General Daniel Domelevo went ahead and cautioned that Ghana faces the risk of falling under the influence of drug dealers if lifestyle audits are not promptly implemented. Domelevo expressed his concerns about the inadequacy of the current systems. He stated, “Our systems are not suitable for the task at hand. The argument regarding invasion of privacy must be considered in the context of national interest or the collective well-being. If we fail to address this promptly, we run the risk of compromising individual rights for the greater good.”
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
