ACP Maame Tiwaa Addo Dankwah , Mr Henry Quartey and other Senior Police Management Board Members Dancing at the WASSA
A Financial Forensic Unit (FFU) has been set up at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to tackle criminal activities in the financial sector of the country.
The new unit will investigate financial fraud, procurement fraud, embezzlement, corruption, money laundering, terrorism financing and economic related crimes.
In addition, it will be involved in the recovery of proceeds of crime.
It would be responsible for analyzing and interpreting financial and accounting data to build up credible evidence crucial for prosecution.
The Director-General of CID, DCOP Bright Oduro, who revealed this, said the Financial Forensic Unit (FFU) is currently collaborating with the Ghana Revenue authority (GRA), Economic and Organized Crime Office, (EOCO), as well as the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) to carry out its mandate.
He made this known at their end of year get-together also known as West Africa Security Services Association (WASSA) at the Police Social Centre in Accra.
He stated that the fight against crime is a relentless one and the CID will continue to work with all other police establishments and the other security services to win the fight.
DCOP Bright Oduro said 22 suspected armed robbers were recently arrested for attacking travelers on some roads in the country.
“Roads most affected by the activities of highway robbers included Kumasi – Ejura- Amantin – Atebubu – Yiji, Kwame Danso highway, the Techiman– Kintampo Road, Buipei-Tamale, Wa–Tumu highway, among others.
Out of the 22 suspects arrested by the police, 18 of them were of Fulani extraction.”
The Director-General of CID said in order to speed up prosecution, the police headquarters have taken over investigations and prosecution.
He mentioned that in 2016, CID made some modest gains in the general crime situation across the country.
“A comparative analysis of crime statistics for the year 2015 and 2016 shows that in 2016, the police received a total of 177,241 complaints throughout the country, and this represent a decrease of 9,193 cases over the year 2015, which recorded a figure of 186,434 complaints.
DCOP Oduro averred that during the same period under review, 28.1% of all cases presented to the law courts gained conviction while 2.7% were acquitted.
The Deputy Interior Minister, Mr Henry Quartey, in an address, said it was important for the police to continue to update the skills of personnel in modern investigative techniques, as well as intelligence gathering.
“We live in a world where criminals have become very sophisticated in their approach to criminal activities so there is the need to try to be a step ahead of them.
He reiterated the preparedness of the ministry to supporting the police to improve the skills of their officers.
Senior police officers, musicians and other representatives of sister security services were in attendance.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey