The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) is promising to be very busy next year as it gears up to investigate 450 cases in 2026 alone, as part of it continuous ruthless fight against organized crime and it related issues.
The Office, in 2025, became one of the vibrant, relevant and performing anti-graft institutions, investigating and tackling organized crime and related matters.
It went after prominent personalities in society including, government appointees, entertainers, politicians, religious leaders without fear or favour.
Notable were the Ashanti Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi, dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armarh Mensah known by stage name Shatta Wale, who both slept in their cell.
Antwi Boasiako has since been charged to court while the musician had his luxurious Lamborghini seized after it was flagged as bought from proceeds from scam.
There was also the case of the former Director General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB) Kwabena Adu Boahene, who is being prosecuted in Accra High Court for diverting US$7 millionof state funds into private account.
In all, a total of 380 cases were handled by the Office, headed by investigative journalist Raymond Archer.
EOCO, in these cases, recovered GH¢155.66 million through its operations—GH¢13 million in direct recoveries and GH¢142.66 million in indirect recoveries.
These revelations were made known by the Finance Minister Dr Ato Baah Forson, when he presented the 2026 budget statement in Parliament on Thursday November 13.
The Office in the year under review embarked on 32 nationwide sensitisation campaigns on cybercrime, gaming fraud, trafficking, and irregular migration.
“EOCO’s collaboration with law enforcement partners led to the dismantling of carjacking syndicates and recovery of 29 luxury vehicles, disrupting organised crime networks”, Dr Forson said.
In a related development, the Minister equally provided update and plans for the Commission and Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), saying it will in 2026, launch the National Human Rights Action Plan, implement the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, and investigate about 9,000 complaints.
This year, the Commission resolved 6,024 out of 6,547 human rights complaints and held 1,927 sensitisation programmes nationwide.
On anti-corruption, 153 cases were resolved and 542 public education campaigns were conducted.
“In Resetting for Growth, Jobs, and Economic Transformation 2026 Budget 2026, CHRAJ will conduct corruption risk assessments for the Lands Commission and the Ministry of Roads and Highways”, the Minister said.
In the case of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Kissi Agyenemg-led institution, which has come under heavy criticisms and attacks with some calling for his removal, in collaboration with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, conducted a corruption risk assessment on public payrolls and uncovered GH¢34 million in unearned salaries, leading to six convictions and the recovery of GH¢106,319.
Record from the Office contained in the budget statement said the Office concluded 10 investigations and is pursuing 67 ongoing cases.
In 2026, it promised to complete all pending investigations, prosecute existing cases, and open new ones to strengthen accountability and deterrence.
By Gifty Boateng