Samson Anyenini blasts EOCO over “lawless overreach”
The host of Newsfile and private legal practitioner, Samson Lardy Anyenini, has taken on the leadership of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), headed by its Executive Director, Raymond Archer, accusing the agency of overstepping its legal mandate in its pursuit of Council of State member, Gabriel T. K. A. Kwamigah-Atokple.
Speaking on Newsfile, Anyenini indicated that his long-standing support for state institutions in the fight against corruption initially informed his decision to share EOCO’s public notice declaring the Council of State member wanted. He explained that, in his view, the law must not discriminate and that claims by an investigative body that a public official is evading justice ought to attract public attention.
However, he noted that subsequent feedback and documentation he received after sharing the notice compelled him to reassess the matter. According to him, the emerging details painted a troubling picture of what he described as institutional disregard for the law by an agency mandated to uphold it.
The controversy stems from EOCO’s investigation into a commercial agreement between Sesi-Edem Company Limited, owned by Dr. Kwamigah-Atokple, and JG Resources Ltd for the supply of gold. EOCO had alleged that the transaction was unlicensed, an assertion Anyenini suggested was inconsistent with documentation indicating the company possessed the necessary approvals.
Citing a ruling delivered on March 19, 2026, at the High Court in Adenta, presided over by Justice Richard Apietu, Anyenini stated that the court found the matter to be civil in nature and dismissed allegations of fraud and money laundering. He added that the court ruled in favour of the company on three substantive issues.
He further pointed out that the court determined EOCO had failed to comply with its own governing law, Act 804, by not seeking confirmation of its freezing order within the stipulated 14-day period. As a result, the court revoked the order and directed the immediate defreezing of the company’s accounts.
Lawyer Anyenini expressed concern that EOCO, instead of complying with or appealing the court’s decision, proceeded to issue a press release on March 30, 2026, declaring Dr. Kwamigah-Atokple a person of interest and threatening his arrest. He argued that such actions undermine the authority of the judiciary and erode the rule of law.
He maintained that once a court of competent jurisdiction has delivered a ruling, it must be respected unless overturned on appeal. He cautioned that any attempt by a state agency to sidestep a judicial decision risks plunging the country into what he described as a system governed by discretion rather than law.
Anyenini further characterised EOCO’s conduct as damaging to the reputation of the individual involved, describing it as a form of state-backed character attack. He indicated that petitions had been submitted to the President and relevant authorities regarding the conduct of EOCO officials in the matter.
He warned that if investigative bodies assume powers beyond their constitutional limits, particularly in disregard of Article 23, they pose a threat to democratic governance. He also raised concerns about the broader implications for ordinary citizens, questioning how individuals without influence might be treated under similar circumstances.
The legal practitioner further emphasised that Ghana could not afford a system where investigative bodies assume the roles of judge and jury, especially in the face of clear judicial pronouncements.
