Stop the victimization; bring back Dzeny – NDC

The main opposition National Democratic Congress has waded into the the suspension of the Eastern Regional Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), Mr. Fred Dzeny demanding his immediate re-instatement and a discontinuation of any purported disciplinary action against him.

A release signed by the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah on Wednesday said:” We are outraged that Mr. Dzeny’s innocuous comments about the need for commitment and colour-blindness in the fight against corruption, should lead to such open and brazen victimization by a government that has the responsibility to rid our nation of the canker.”

The Press Statement further says the EOCO official has committed no offence by drawing attention to the need to deal with corruption “irrespective of whose ox is gored,” adding “Through this singular action, it has become clear that President Akufo-Addo’s lofty rhetoric about fighting corruption is only a ruse to witch-hunt political opponents and not a reflection of a sincere desire to address the problem frontally.”

Mr. Dzeny in an interview with Kasapa News said government must have the political will to prosecute corrupt officials within its government before prosecuting others in the opposition.

“The ruling government should be ready first and foremost to prosecute their own when the slightest incident of corruption is raised against the ruling government then they can also get the guts to prosecute the opposition.”

“When you look at the corruption cases in Ghana, it is not just people who are in government that are corrupt, the public servants, civil servants they are all corrupt. When you look at it, it is the Chief Directors who prepare contract documents and other things so if we are blaming the Politicians, it is not right, it is the public servants generally,” Mr. Dzeny added.

However, barely 24hrs after publication of his interview, the latter was suspended without any hearing by the anti-graft body. In a rejoinder, however, Mr. Dzeny said he was speaking on the matter in his personal capacity and not as an official of EOCO.

Meanwhile, the suspended Eastern regional director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Fred Dzeny, was on Tuesday interrogated by a high-powered team of officials at the anti-graft agency,according to reports.

The team met Mr. Dzeny following a barrage of criticisms directed at EOCO by anti-corruption agencies in the country after he was suspended without hearing.

Kasapa sources say Mr. Dzeny is likely to be called back from suspension anytime soon.