The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has strongly refuted claims published by online news portal Novareport alleging that Mr. Kevin Okyere, Chief Executive Officer and promoter of Springfield Energy, has been arrested or detained in Dubai. According to Novareport, the supposed arrest followed EOCO’s alleged failure to act on a petition accusing Mr. Okyere of defrauding by false pretence.
In a statement released, EOCO described the publication as “false and misleading,” stressing that the agency had not made any request or taken any action that could have led to the purported arrest. EOCO clarified that it currently has two active investigations involving Springfield Energy — one based on a petition lodged against the company, and another related to an ongoing dispute between the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) and Springfield Energy.
The anti-graft body explained that its operational policy requires that investigations must precede any arrest, and not the other way around. “It is the policy directive of the leadership of EOCO that investigations must precede arrest and not the reverse,” the statement emphasized. EOCO further noted that the BOST–Springfield case is being treated as a matter of high priority due to its potential impact on BOST’s financial position and the broader Ghanaian economy.
Although EOCO ordinarily refrains from commenting on active investigations, the agency said it found it necessary to respond because the Novareport publication could mislead the public and damage reputations. “It is regrettable that Novareport did not seek clarification from EOCO before running the false story,” the statement read.
EOCO reaffirmed its commitment to upholding professionalism, transparency, and due process in all its operations. The office assured the public that it remains steadfast in investigating and prosecuting economic and organised crimes across Ghana.
“The public is urged to disregard the false claims made by Novareport and to note that EOCO is actively working on not one, but two investigations involving Springfield Energy,” the statement indicated.
