Weta Traditional Council Demands Fairness from EOCO in Case Against Volta Council of State Member

The Weta Traditional Council has thrown its full weight behind Volta Regional Council of State member Hon. Dr. Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, calling on the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to conduct its affairs with strict fairness and transparency as an ongoing matter involving him and his company unfolds.

In a formal solidarity statement released on Thursday, April 2, Torgbuiga Akpo Ashiakpor VI -- Paramount Chief and Overlord of the Weta Traditional Area and President of the Weta Traditional Council -- affirmed the Council's backing of Dr. Kwamigah-Atokple, describing him as a distinguished son of the land whose contributions to community development remain widely recognised.

Who Is Dr. Kwamigah-Atokple?

Dr. Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple serves as the Volta Regional representative on Ghana's Council of State, a constitutionally established advisory body to the President. He is also the head of Sesi-Edem Company Limited, a business enterprise that now finds itself at the centre of scrutiny by EOCO, Ghana's anti-corruption and financial crimes agency.

The Weta Traditional Council described him as someone who has "consistently demonstrated commitment to the socio-economic development of our community and the wider region," adding that his "contributions to enterprise growth and community advancement remain significant and widely acknowledged."

The matter has drawn significant public attention in recent weeks, with Dr. Kwamigah-Atokple himself going on the offensive -- demanding an apology from the EOCO Executive Director and filing a petition to President John Mahama calling for the official's removal.

Traditional Council's Demands: Due Process and Professionalism

While carefully noting that it respects the mandate of EOCO and all state institutions, the Weta Traditional Council made clear that the manner in which this case is handled matters just as much as its outcome.

"While we respect the mandate of EOCO and all state institutions, we emphasise the need for strict adherence to due process, professionalism, fairness and rule of law in the handling of this matter."

The Council underscored that accountability frameworks must not become instruments of reputational harm before any formal legal determination is reached. It placed particular emphasis on the principle that justice must be observable -- not just procedurally correct in private, but transparently fair in public.

"Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done without prejudice."

This language echoes a well-established legal maxim and signals that the traditional authority is watching closely how state institutions manage both the substance and the optics of the case.

Warning Over Social Media Commentary

One of the more pointed sections of the statement addressed the spread of unverified reports and commentary online. The Council expressed serious concern about what it characterised as premature public judgement circulating across social media platforms, warning that such activity risks corrupting due process and causing irreversible damage to reputations before any verdict is reached.

The Council called for "the immediate cessation of such social media trials" and urged the public to exercise restraint pending a formal determination.

• Unverified information circulating online could prejudice the case, the Council warned
• Social media commentary risks damaging Dr. Kwamigah-Atokple's reputation before any finding is made
• The public was urged to allow state institutions to work without pressure from online discourse

The concern about digital-era reputational harm is one increasingly raised by traditional and civil society groups in Ghana, where social media commentary on high-profile cases often runs ahead of official proceedings.

A Broader Principle: Development Must Not Be Discouraged

Beyond the specifics of this case, the Weta Traditional Council articulated what it described as a broader principle -- that individuals who make meaningful contributions to development must be treated within a framework of accountability that does not inadvertently punish achievement or deter future contributors.

"Individuals who contribute meaningfully to development should be encouraged within a framework of accountability and fairness. Actions that inadvertently discourage such contributions must be carefully avoided."

This framing positions the Council's statement not merely as a defence of one individual, but as a commentary on how Ghana's anti-corruption institutions ought to engage with business leaders and public servants -- firmly but fairly.

EOCO Urged to Protect Institutional Credibility

The statement directed a specific appeal to EOCO, urging the agency to ensure its investigative procedures safeguard both the integrity of the process and the reputations of those involved until formal findings are made.

"We further call on EOCO to ensure that all actions and procedures are conducted in a manner that upholds the integrity of the process and avoids creating undue public bias and malice ahead of any formal determination," the Council stated.

EOCO, established under the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act, 2010 (Act 804), holds broad investigative powers over financial and organised crime matters. Critics and civil society groups have periodically raised questions about how its processes interface with public communications and media -- a tension this case appears to be bringing back into focus.

Council Stands Firmly Behind "Son of the Land"

The statement closed with an unambiguous declaration of support for Dr. Kwamigah-Atokple, invoking the language of community identity and ancestral belonging.

"As a son of the land, the Weta Traditional Council solidly stands behind our subject... with the expectation that state authorities will act within the remit of the law."

The involvement of a traditional council in a matter before a state investigative body underscores the continuing role that Ghana's chieftaincy institutions play in public affairs -- acting not only as cultural guardians but as vocal stakeholders in issues of governance, accountability, and the protection of community members who rise to national prominence.

The EOCO investigation into Dr. Kwamigah-Atokple and Sesi-Edem Company Limited is ongoing. No charges have been publicly announced at the time of this report.