The Member of Parliament for Efutu Constituency, Alexander Afenyo Markin has challenged the decision of Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei to order some top officers of the Commission to proceed on leave following a report from the Economic and Organized Crime Organization (EOCO) indicting the officers.
According to him, although EOCO has the power to look into such matters and make its report available to the Electoral Commissioner, it does not have the power to direct her on what do to.
EOCO earlier this week said it was investigating some top officials of the Commission over the loss of some GHs480,000 from the Commission’s Endowment Fund.
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 were said to have been identified by EOCO as the ‘suspects’.
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) said ‘the suspects are assisting in investigations’.
The letter further stated that the officers in question should be made to proceed on leave, while investigations proceed.
Further checks however by Citi News reveal that the officials were on Wednesday directed to proceed on leave by the chairperson, Charlotte Osei.
But speaking on Eyewitness News on Friday, Afenyo Markin said the decision to ask the suspects to proceed on leave must be grounded in law.
“EOCO has the mandate to investigate such issues. What I’m a bit worried about is the language of proceed on leave. If EOCO so desires to advise the EC that these people that we are investigating, we hold the view that their continues stay of the in office may undermine the outcome of the investigations, therefore interdict them, so be it. But if EOCO writes to tell Madam Chair to direct some people to proceed on leave.”
“She must not direct someone to proceed on leave because EOCO says so, EOCO should ground its reasons in law,” he said.
He, however, said the Electoral Commissioner can interdict the officers if she finds it necessary to do so in accordance with law.
Source: citifmonline.com
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Lawyer Afenyo Markin is dead right; EOCO has no authority to direct on the employment relationship betn the EC and it's employees. EOCO may at best recommend/advise the EC. It's also wrong for the EC to direct the officers to proceed on leave. The law frowns on such arbitrariness. Kudos Afenyo! The law is the LAW; PERIOD!!
MAHAMA AND MILLS APPOINTED ALL OF THEM. NONE BY KUFFOUR. GEORGINA IS A VERY GOOD WOMAN. SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SET UP OR WRONGLY IMPLICATED BUT SHE WAS APPOINTED BY MAHAMA.SHE WAS TUC CHAIRMAN.
charlote osei must resign for incompetence, she presided over corrupt officials, from gh people
Lawyer Afenyo Markins this is not à joke. Peuple go On retirement and realise that funds deducted from their salaries to ne paid to is no where because of inconsistences of unscruplous managers who broke protocol and used the money for a different purposes and failed to réconcilie.
look, if we have any lil honour, lets give it to hon. afeyo ok., he is in NPP, party in power but still telling the truth. EOCO has no business to do such, if the law prez allow it to go so, soon sophia akuffo told will be told by EOCO to proceed on leave for atugubah to head. we voted for positive change not only change, let us as NPP set great records which will be difficult to erase. EOCO must follow up with the AUDITOR GENERAL REPORTS from 200 - 2016, laise with the AG and see rather how to get those funds back to ghana, people are too quick to let be known , if yopu are appointed, let ya great works bring you out not some ***barred word*** orders. charlotte osei is also a poor lawyer, she should have allow afenyo even to say that, immediately by monday, she should call them to officee, if EOCO is full of the facts, what does the law says their powers are? they can go to court, after all even idi.ots can go to court why not EOCO now they have their favourite C.J at the apex court
Hmmmm those deputies were appointed by the NPP under Presiddnt kufour! Interesting times ahead. No wonder Corupt Afenyo Markins is defending them. No we have not forgotten about Afenyo and ADB acrobatics
that was my thoughts as well after reading the proceed on leave ***barred word***. one can still be at post and recluse himself when an investigation that may involve him is being undertaken, there must be clear directives as to the person not handling any documentation related to the matter,or speak with anyone involved about the case.this archaic attitude of proceed on leave should stop