The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has exceeded its 2025 recovery target by an unprecedented margin, recording the highest recoveries in the agency’s history.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Thursday, December 18, Dr Ayine revealed that although EOCO set a recovery target of GH¢200 million for the year, it has so far recovered GH¢337.4 million—exceeding the target by GH¢133.4 million.
“The economic and organised crime unit has not only met its target but has gone beyond our expectations,” Dr Ayine said, describing the feat as a testament to the dedication of EOCO staff and the strength of Ghana’s institutions.
He explained that the recoveries include both direct and indirect funds. According to him, direct recoveries paid into EOCO’s exhibit account currently stand at about GH¢194 million, while indirect recoveries—funds paid directly to institutions such as the Ghana Revenue Authority or the Consolidated Fund—amount to GH¢142.4 million.
Dr Ayine stressed that the figures represent completed cases and highlighted the critical role of leadership in institutional performance. “The success story of EOCO shows that while institutions matter, leadership is crucial to the success of the institutions we build as a country,” he noted.
The Attorney-General further disclosed that Ghana has also recovered more than $15 million from an international organised online crime syndicate that defrauded Ghanaians through cryptocurrency schemes.
He said EOCO, working with other investigative agencies, successfully used local laws to freeze and recover virtual assets concealed in foreign jurisdictions. As a result, on November 19, 2025, Zodia Custody converted the recovered crypto assets and paid $15,191,730.13 into EOCO’s exhibit account.
Dr Ayine explained that the syndicate deliberately targeted Ghanaians and laundered the proceeds through digital currencies such as Bitcoin and USDT, describing the recovery as a major victory for law enforcement.
“Millions of funds which were looted out of the country have been successfully returned into our motherland,” he said.
He added that victims of the fraud will be identified and refunded, stressing that the recovery underscores the government’s determination to combat transnational cybercrime, strengthen enforcement in the financial and digital sectors, and uphold the rule of law.
