The Economic and Organised Crime Office(EOCO) on Thursday, August 22, 2024, was recognized by the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) among state institutions in the country for exemplary leadership among other categories at the 2024 Conference and Awards.
These awards are presented to the heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government that provide sufficient logistics and build the capacity of the internal audit unit of the ire respective organizations they head. It also makes sure that the internal control systems are effective.
EOCO topped these agencies after being awarded in various categories by the IAA at the event held at the University of Professional Studies in Accra where heads of various government agencies were in attendance.
Following an Audit assessment in the 2023/2024 Auditing Year for state institutions in the country for which reason they were recognized and rewarded, EOCO came tops as it was adjudged Best Audit Committee (Accountability Institutions), Best ERM Compliant Institutions (Accountability Institutions), Best Internal Audit Unit (Accountability Institutions) and Best Head of Covered Entity (Accountability Institutions)
The Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency, Dr. E. O. Osae was full of praise for EOCO for the work done following an Audit assessment in the 2023/2024 Auditing year and encouraged the establishment to keep it up.
Executive Director of the EOCO, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah(Mrs) who received the awards on behalf of the organization thanked IAA for the recognition and pledged that it would be a moral booster for her and the staff to do more in compliance with auditing.
Speaking briefly to the media she said “We are not going to be complacent after these awards. It is an indication that we are doing something right and we must continue to chart a path that has been recognized and applauded by a state agency.
“I dedicate the awards to the staff of the institution who continue to work towards its development. Even though we are not there yet, I am certain that with unity and a common purpose, we will achieve the vision of the anti-corruption agency”
Other awardees at the ceremony included the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the University of Cape Coast, the Bui Power Authority and the Ghana National Fire Service(GNFS).
Upon her assumption of office as head of the agency, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah(Mrs) has been credited for engineering transformation in accordance with the Act that establishes EOCO with collaborations with international agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) in the USA, City of London Police (CoLP) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
In 2023 the institution made a total recovery of over GHC 232 million for the state being direct and indirect recoveries from proceeds of crime.