The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) led by Mr Raymond Archer has been dragged before the Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra by Emmanuel Senyo Amekplenu over alleged refusal and failure to disclose information requested under Ghana’s Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2019 (Act 989).
The legal action, which invokes Articles 21(1)(f) and 33 of the 1992 Constitution, seeks the enforcement of the applicant’s constitutional right to access information held by the Economic and Organised Crime Office
According to court documents, Mr. Amekplenu submitted a formal RTI request to EOCO on February 16, 2026, demanding extensive details relating to the operations, procurement activities, and financial recoveries made by the anti-graft agency over the years.
The applicant is seeking access to EOCO’s procurement plans for the 2025 and 2026 financial years, together with detailed records concerning all goods, services and works procured by the institution within the stated period.
The request further sought comprehensive information regarding monies and assets allegedly recovered by EOCO from 2012 to 2026. Specifically, the applicant demanded a breakdown of all recoveries by case, nature of offence, category of recovery, the value involved, and the current status of the said recoveries.
Additionally, the applicant requested documentary evidence indicating whether recovered funds and assets were duly transferred into the Consolidated Fund or any designated state account in accordance with law.
However, according to the suit, EOCO allegedly failed and/or refused to provide the requested information within the statutory timelines prescribed under the Right to Information Act.
The applicant contends that EOCO’s conduct amounts to a blatant violation of his constitutional right to information guaranteed under Article 21(1)(f) of the 1992 Constitution and further undermines the spirit and purpose of Ghana’s transparency and accountability laws.
In the motion filed before the court, Mr. Amekplenu argues that public institutions such as EOCO are under a legal obligation to disclose information in their custody unless the information falls within specific exemptions clearly outlined under the RTI Act.
The suit names the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as the 1st Respondent, the Right to Information Commission as the 2nd Respondent, and the Attorney-General as the 3rd Respondent.
The applicant is seeking several reliefs from the court, including:
1. A declaration that EOCO’s refusal and/or failure to grant access to the requested information is unlawful, unconstitutional and inconsistent with the Right to Information Act.
2. An order compelling EOCO to disclose all the information requested by the applicant.
3. An order directing EOCO to comply fully with the provisions of the Right to Information Act going forward.
Any further consequential orders the court may deem fit.
Court documents indicate that the suit was filed at the Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra by counsel for the applicant, Eric Dawda Esq.
The case is expected to generate significant public interest, particularly in light of growing concerns over transparency, accountability and disclosure obligations of public institutions.
Legal analysts say the outcome of the case could have far-reaching implications for the enforcement of Ghana’s Right to Information regime and may establish an important judicial precedent on the duty of state institutions to disclose procurement records, financial recoveries and expenditure details when requested by citizens.
The development also comes at a time when calls for greater transparency in the handling of public funds and anti-corruption recoveries continue to intensify across the country.
Civil society groups and transparency advocates have consistently argued that state institutions exercising enormous public power must remain accountable to the citizenry through timely disclosure of information relating to public finances, procurement processes and recovered assets.
The Human Rights Division of the High Court is expected to determine whether EOCO’s actions constitute a breach of the applicant’s constitutional and statutory rights under Ghana’s RTI framework.
