Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), called on the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to review what he described as excessive bail conditions imposed on persons accused of economic crimes. The remarks came amid renewed public scrutiny of EOCO’s conduct, particularly after the attempted arrest of Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, September 26, Amoah said EOCO has a mandate to investigate and pursue suspected economic and organised crimes, but its bail conditions should not effectively keep accused persons in custody because they cannot meet the financial requirements. He warned that bail conditions should not become a substitute for imprisonment, especially when the amounts demanded exceed the means of the accused.
"I have seen a lot of write-ups and commentary on EOCO over the past year and 8 months. Some of the things I genuinely would want to bring to the attention of my brother Raymond Archer is that they should check the type of bail regime that they have been posting. I cannot sit and pretend that all is well. All is not well," Amoah said. He added that if an accused is told they have caused the state to lose GH¢50 million and is then required to post bail of GH¢40 million to GH¢50 million, the bail application effectively substitutes for a prison sentence.
The COPEC chief urged lawyers to scrutinise bail conditions and highlighted the need for EOCO to reassess its bail regime to avoid unjustly detaining individuals who cannot afford the financial demands.
