
Audio By Carbonatix
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has justified the raid on the offices of the Ghana Football Association on Tuesday.Mordey Akpadie, head of the EOCO told Joy News his office has reason to believe that the Ghana Football Association is in breach of the country’s tax laws.The EOCO Tuesday besieged the offices of the GFA with a court warrant and took away with nine Central Processing Units as well as files and other documents belonging to the FA to facilitate investigations into the alleged breaches of the country's laws.The action has provoked widespread condemnation mainly from FA officials and people sympathetic to the FA, while a good number of others have expressed support for the action.But the EOCO is unapologetic. According to Mordey Akpadie, their action is justified.“We are a law enforcement agency. We work within the law. We don’t negotiate the law," he said.He explained that the EOCO had since October 14, 2010 requested the FA to provide documentations to assist with investigations but the FA has been intransigent.He was particularly bemused that the FA is not cooperating with investigations when even the Office of the President, the Ministry of Finance, Youth and Sports and other agencies of state are assisting the EOCO with investigations.Asked what the EOCO is investigating, Mr. Akpadie said his outfit is investigating monies government has given the FA as well as reports of tax evasions.He said EOCO has not accused anybody at the FA of corrupt practices but has “information which suggests that there have been breaches of Ghana’s laws, tax laws,” he stressed.He hinted that his outfit will return the seized documents within 24 hours.But Thadeous Sory, legal counsel for the FA, said the procedure adopted by the EOCO is unacceptable.Whilst Mr Sory conceded that the EOCO does have the constitutional mandate to undertake investigations of such kind, he said the “factual basis, the surrounding circumstances and manner in which it exercised its mandate, there are manifest breaches of the rights of the FA.”He dismissed assertions that the FA has not been cooperative with the EOCO saying the FA needs to know the specific investigation the EOCO is conducting in order to provide the appropriate information.Thadeous Sory said they will ponder over the situation and take the appropriate line of action.Meanwhile, ex-GFA boss Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe said the action by the EOCO is "shameful and embarrassing."He said there is absolutely no justification for the action by the EOCO and warned of dire consequences if FIFA is alerted. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interviews Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Tarkwa: Court jails 19-year-old five years for stealing nurse’s iPhone, cash
29 minutes -
UK regulator to probe TikTok on child safety measures
40 minutes -
Zambia’s former Vice President Guy Scott dies at 82
46 minutes -
‘It takes huge ‘Akokodur’ to do business in Ghana’ – Nduom reacts after Supreme Court halts GN Savings revival
59 minutes -
BoG to roll out new digital banking framework as financial sector goes more digital
1 hour -
Government to split NITA’s regulatory and commercial functions under proposed reforms
1 hour -
GES releases funds to SHSs for perishable food items
2 hours -
Ga East Assembly to begin demolishing structures on waterways after July 16
2 hours -
Celebrity Hitz TV, University of Minnesota announce inaugural Minnesota Music Conference for 2027
2 hours -
Mahama to inspect Ho Sports Stadium during Volta working visit
2 hours -
Ghana’s informal cross-border trade hits GH¢31bn
2 hours -
Parliament unlikely to declare Asante Akyem North MP’s seat vacant – Majority Leader
2 hours -
BoG didn’t intervene directly in FX market from August 2024 to December 2025 – Governor
2 hours -
Lands Minister urges public to join national campaign of tree planting
2 hours -
World Population Day: Population Caucus Chair urges more investment in youth
2 hours