Accra, Oct. 1 – OccupyGhana, a non-partisan citizens' pressure group, has called on the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) to exercise their investigative powers within the law. The group expressed concerns about the manner in which some investigative agencies have been exercising their powers, citing recent cases that have raised questions about due process.
In a statement issued in Accra, OccupyGhana cited a 2026 High Court decision involving Sesi-Edem Company Limited, in which the Court found that EOCO had frozen the company's accounts over a contractual dispute and acted outside its mandate. The group also mentioned the arrest of former Chief Executive of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, at the airport in July 2026.
OccupyGhana expressed concerns over bail conditions imposed by investigative agencies, with reported amounts ranging from GH¢10 million to GH¢150 million. A case is currently pending at the Supreme Court on whether security agencies have the authority to impose bail conditions without the courts. The group noted that the investigation into Power Distribution Services (PDS) Ghana Ltd provides another example requiring public scrutiny.
In the PDS case, EOCO froze about 66 accounts belonging to PDS and individuals linked to the company in April 2026. The affected persons alleged that some accounts belonging to businesses unrelated to PDS were also frozen. Two PDS officials were detained by the BNI and initially granted bail of GH¢50 million each, which was subsequently increased to GH¢100 million each within a week.
The group also mentioned that two lawyers who accompanied their clients to the BNI were subsequently identified as persons of interest, detained overnight, and granted bail of GH¢50 million each. The lawyers alleged that they were questioned about professional fees and that their personal and law-firm accounts were subsequently frozen.
OccupyGhana urged investigative agencies to charge suspects where sufficient evidence exists and release them where the evidence is insufficient to support continued restrictions. The group also called on the courts to deal expeditiously with pending cases, including the PDS judicial review and the Supreme Court action concerning agency-imposed bail.
The group further urged Parliament's Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and Defence and Interior Committee to scrutinize the exercise of investigative powers by EOCO and the BNI. OccupyGhana also called on the Attorney-General to review the use of freezing orders, agency-imposed bail, and reporting conditions in ongoing investigations.
Key points
- OccupyGhana urges EOCO and BNI to observe due process in investigations.
- The group expresses concerns over bail conditions and account freezes.
- OccupyGhana calls for expeditious handling of pending cases.
