The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has mounted a strong criticism of the Executive Director of Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Raymond Archer, accusing him of lacking the professionalism required to head a sensitive state investigative institution.

Speaking on Newsfile, the Effutu MP argued that EOCO under Mr. Archer had become excessively personalised, emotionally driven and inconsistent with the calm institutional culture expected of professional investigative bodies.

According to Mr. Afenyo-Markin, Mr. Archer’s conduct contrasted sharply with the operational style of other state security and investigative agencies such as the DNI and the CID.

“Clearly, I’ve learned one lesson as a politician, that there are some institutions that require pure professionalism,” he stated, adding that EOCO’s operations appeared to revolve too heavily around the personality of its Executive Director.

He said Mr. Archer appeared emotionally invested in investigations rather than allowing institutional systems and trained officers to work independently.

“You meet Kipu, the Director-General of DNI, and he is always relaxed. You go to CID headquarters and see professionals calmly doing their work. But Raymond Archer has made EOCO a one-man institution,” the Minority Leader asserted.

The Minority Leader, who is also a legal practitioner, claimed that some EOCO officers themselves were frustrated with the management style of the EOCO boss.

He further advised Mr. Archer to focus on strengthening institutional systems and officer training instead of “directing arrests” and becoming personally associated with operations.

“If Raymond really wants to leave a legacy, he should invest in training officers and allow systems to work, not to be getting so personal,” he stressed.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin also criticised EOCO’s handling of investigations involving some members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), particularly the treatment of Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi.

According to him, EOCO employed what he described as “Rambo-style” tactics in arresting the NPP chairman after police had already granted him bail.

He alleged that EOCO attempted to arrest Wontumi at the premises of the Police Headquarters but was resisted by police officers who insisted proper procedures should be followed.

“When Wontumi got out of the Police Headquarters, they accosted him and arrested him in a Rambo style, which was very wrong,” he alleged.

The Minority Leader defended the protest staged by NPP Members of Parliament and party supporters at EOCO headquarters, insisting it was a lawful civil protest intended to register displeasure over what they considered unfair treatment.

“We respect state institutions and believe in accountability, but when things are going wrong, it is our responsibility to protest,” he said.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin also questioned EOCO’s bail conditions in high-profile investigations, arguing that the practice of pegging bail amounts to the sums under investigation lacked legal basis.

“It is his argument that because the investigation involves fifty million, then bail should be fifty million. Determining bail is not founded on any law,” he argued.

He further alleged that individuals who offered properties as sureties for suspects were later subjected to investigations and harassment by EOCO officials regarding the origins of their assets.

The Minority Leader maintained that several former government officials and political figures being investigated were not flight risks and could simply be invited to cooperate with investigators without dramatic arrests.

“You pick a man from his house, a man in his 70s, somebody who has served this country. If you invite him, he will come,” he said.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin concluded by urging the EOCO boss to separate investigative work from what he described as the aggressive posture associated with media exposés.

“You are not in investigative journalism anymore. You are dealing with matters that will go to court and require evidence and professionalism,” he cautioned.

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The Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Raymond Archer, has dismissed claims that two lawyers linked to the ongoing PDS investigations were arrested while representing their clients, insisting that the lawyers had earlier been invited by investigators as suspects.

Speaking on Newsfile monitored by The Chronicle, Mr. Archer explained that the investigations into the controversial Power Distribution Services (PDS) transaction are being jointly conducted by EOCO and the BNI.

According to him, the current investigation was triggered by a petition from the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), and not directly by campaign statements previously made by President John Dramani Mahama concerning the PDS scandal.

“Let me just clarify that the PDS investigation is a joint investigation between the BNI and EOCO,” he stated, adding that the case under investigation is “predicated on a petition from the Financial Intelligence Centre.”

Mr. Archer strongly rejected assertions that lawyers from the law firm Minka-Premo & Co. were arrested after visiting EOCO to represent their clients.

“It is not true that the lawyers came to represent their clients and then they were arrested. That is not true,” he stressed.

He explained that lawyers Sophia Akuffo and Mr. Premo had earlier been invited by investigators as suspects, but rescheduled their appearance because officers handling the matter were reportedly unavailable on the initial day.

According to him, when the lawyers later arrived at EOCO premises, they were processed in connection with the investigation as suspects, while another legal team represented the other individuals under investigation.

“We don’t invite lawyers. We invite suspects and then they come with their lawyers,” Mr. Archer clarified.

He further disclosed that senior lawyer Mr. Premo was later granted bail on health grounds after reportedly falling ill during the process.

Mr. Archer defended the controversial bail conditions imposed on the suspects, arguing that the amounts reflected the gravity of the issues under investigation.

“When you hear bail, people should not focus on the amount. People should focus on what is at stake,” he stated.

Though reports circulating in the media suggested that some GH¢850 million belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) may have gone missing from a CalBank account, the EOCO boss declined to confirm the figure.

He cautioned against speculation and insisted that investigators were still examining the facts contained in the petition before them.

“The fact that somebody says GH¢100 million is missing from CalBank does not necessarily mean it is true,” he noted.

Mr. Archer also distanced EOCO’s ongoing investigation from public commentary and political discussions surrounding the failed PDS concession agreement.

“There could be 20 investigations into PDS,” he said, stressing that the present case is tied strictly to a “specific petition” currently under investigation.

The EOCO Executive Director maintained that investigators were conducting a “very professional and methodical investigation” and warned against what he described as misinformation capable of prejudicing the probe.

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The Ghana Health Service has assured the public that enhanced disease surveillance and preparedness measures have been activated across the country following reports of a Hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship currently docked in Cape Verde.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, a total of eight suspected cases of the viral infection have so far been recorded on the vessel, with five cases confirmed and three deaths reported as of May 7, 2026.

The statement, signed by Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, noted that the affected individuals largely comprised Filipino crew members, while passengers on board came from the United States, Europe, South America, Australia and parts of Asia.

The statement explained that the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have assessed the global public health risk as low, but advised countries to intensify surveillance and emergency preparedness measures.

Hantavirus is a rodent-borne viral disease transmitted mainly through contact with infected rodents, particularly exposure to their urine, saliva, droppings or contaminated surfaces. Health experts say symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle pain, abdominal discomfort and vomiting, while severe infections can lead to breathing difficulties and potentially fatal respiratory complications.

The Ghana Health Service stressed that no case of Hantavirus has been recorded in Ghana.

However, the Service disclosed that precautionary public health interventions have already been instituted through its Port Health systems and other surveillance structures to prevent any possible importation of the disease into the country.

Among the measures announced are enhanced surveillance at all ports of entry, including airports and seaports, intensified monitoring of unusual respiratory illnesses in health facilities nationwide, strengthened laboratory preparedness and rapid response systems, as well as collaboration with international disease surveillance networks.

The health authorities also urged the public to adopt preventive measures aimed at reducing exposure to rodents and contaminated environments.

Citizens have been advised to keep homes and workplaces clean, properly store food, dispose of waste promptly, avoid direct contact with rodents and their droppings, and wear gloves and masks when cleaning rodent-infested areas.

The Ghana Health Service further encouraged regular handwashing with soap and clean water, while urging persons experiencing fever, breathing difficulties or flu-like symptoms after possible rodent exposure or recent international travel to seek immediate medical attention.

The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service assured the public that Ghana’s disease surveillance systems remain active and responsive, while cautioning against misinformation and panic.

The statement was issued on the official WhatsApp communication platform of the Ghana Health Service.

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