The President of the Automobile Dealers Association of Ghana, Mr. Eric Kwaku Boateng, has issued a strong call to the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to “sit up” in the wake of ongoing raids on luxury vehicles alleged to be stolen from the United States.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s Oman Mu Nsem with host Nana Owoahene Acheampong, Mr. Boateng expressed deep frustration over what he described as intimidation tactics by EOCO and its apparent over-reliance on foreign agencies such as the FBI without conducting independent due diligence.
“The EOCO Boss must sit up. It is clear he’s only working for the FBI, but which agency is more resourced than the FBI? If they couldn’t detect the theft over there, how can you come and arrest vehicles here without proper checks?”- Boateng questioned in twi.
He emphasized that modern vehicles, especially those manufactured after 2018, are equipped with advanced anti-theft systems, making it increasingly difficult for such cars to be stolen in the first place.
“It is not easy to steal a car these days. I understand the system. I have been part of the push to bring car assembly plants to Ghana. I know how these systems work,”- he said.
Boateng criticized EOCO for allegedly harassing legitimate car dealers who have already paid taxes and completed all legal processes before importing their vehicles.
“How can you ask me (Ghana) to arrest cars for you (US) when you’ve not done your due diligence? Meanwhile, my citizens have already paid the taxes and complied with all legal processes. You (EOCO) can’t just follow the FBI blindly without looking into the matter thoroughly,”- he stated.
He further appealed to the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, to intervene and ensure the process is free from intimidation and political interference.
“We believe in the rule of law, but the right thing must be done. This is not about politics. We know how the NDC struggled to gain power. We also know some in the NPP want things to stay this way to punish the NDC in the next elections. But it’s genuine businesses like ours that suffer,” – he lamented.
Mr. Boateng made it clear that the association is not seeking to politicize the matter but wants fairness and transparency in how the authorities handle these investigations.
The recent joint operations by EOCO and the FBI have sparked concern among local car dealers; many of whom claim they have followed due legal processes in acquiring and importing their vehicles. The Automobile Dealers Association is urging the government to engage stakeholders more thoroughly to prevent harm to legitimate businesses.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu
