EOCO strengthens partnership with AMA to deal with financial crimes

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has held talks with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to strengthen its collaboration.

The meeting was held on Wednesday when a seven-member delegation from EOCO paid a working visit to the AMA office.

High on the agenda was a discussion on ways to assist improve revenue mobilisation and curb financial crime.

The EOCO delegation led by the Executive Director, Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, included the Deputy Executive Director, Nana Antwi, Director of Administration, Edward Cudjoe, Head of Organised Crime, Bashiru Dapilah, Head of Public Affairs, Faustina Lartey.

Speaking at the meeting, EOCO Executive Director, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, explained that the purpose of the visit was to inform the Assembly of its mission and how it could support it to achieve its mandate to develop Accra.

She said EOCO is ready to support AMA to achieve its mandate to help develop the capital city.

"There are a lot of things we bring to the table when it comes to the activities you do, there are a lot of fees and rates people don't want to pay and we are here as a state organization to help you collect them, also our presence here is to let you know what we bring to the table and how we can support you to achieve your mandate to develop the Accra we want," she said.

COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah added, "We were in the Upper East and the MCE told us that those who were supposed to pay their rates and fees to the Assembly had done so by an invitation from EOCO... Together they have improved on their revenue collection and we want to extend that same collaboration to the AMA... There are a lot of businesses operating within your area of jurisdiction who have no Business Operating Permit from the Assembly and these are things that we will work on together.”

On her part, AMA Chief Executive Hon. Elizabeth Sackey expressed her gratitude to EOCO while stressing the importance of sealing leakages to improve revenue mobilization.

She assured that AMA will provide the right environment for the collaboration with EOCO to work.

She stressed that the Assembly is ready to work with EOCO to help address issues such as the issuance of fake tickets among other financial malpractices to increase revenue.

"We are ready to work together. We need your support in many areas and we are happy to have you, Our revenue is not flowing the way it should," Hon. Elizabeth Sackey indicated.