Lawyer Kwesi Botchway Jnr. has launched a strong attack on the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Raymond Archer, accusing him of having a history of sensationalising stories and damaging the reputations of prominent individuals.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana with Moro Awudu on Thursday, July 16, 2026, during a discussion on the detention of Dennis “Miracles” Aboagye and the GH¢50 million bail conditions imposed on him, Mr Botchway questioned Mr Archer’s credibility and suitability to head the state investigative agency.
“The deliberate misrepresentation, I think, is unfortunate. I think it is dangerous. I think it is disingenuous. And that goes to the credibility of Mr Raymond Archer,” he said.
Mr Botchway argued that Mr Archer’s record as former editor of the Enquirer newspaper reflected what he described as a pattern of sensational journalism.
“It is a matter of public record that Mr Archer, as editor of the Enquirer newspaper, gained notoriety for what I describe as an appetite for sensational news and sensational stories. He is one of the editors who has been sued by several people.
“You will recall that he was sued by Joe Ghartey for publishing false stories about him. He was sued by Asabee for publishing false stories about him. He was sued by Mr George Owusu, the Country Manager of Kosmos Energy, for publishing false stories about him. He was sued by former Speaker of Parliament Mike Oquaye for publishing false stories about him. He was also sued by Mr Kwasi Osei, the former Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, for publishing false stories about him.”
He further claimed that Mr Archer had previously been convicted in one of the defamation cases.
“In fact, in one of those matters, Raymond Archer was convicted by the court in 2010. So, this is a person who, in my view, has been notorious for embellishing stories, pursuing sensationalism and damaging people’s reputations. This is someone who has been convicted for defaming others.”
Mr Botchway questioned the decision to appoint Mr Archer to lead EOCO, arguing that his past should have raised concerns about his handling of investigations.
“And yet we appoint such a person to head a sensitive law enforcement agency like EOCO. What should we expect? We should expect him to embellish investigations and sensationalise them. That is exactly what he did in the case of Adu-Boahene.
“He told the public a very nice dramatic story that the man owned about 200 houses in Accra alone, only for the matter to get to court, where the State Attorney indicated that the Attorney General’s press conference was neither conclusive nor relevant. That is what is happening in court.
“Meanwhile, Raymond Archer, in my view, fed the Attorney General serious lies that led to the destruction of the young man’s reputation.”
The lawyer also referred to another case involving former National Food Buffer Stock Company Chief Executive, Abdul-Wahab Hanan, arguing that developments in that prosecution reinforced his concerns.
“The same applies to the case involving Abdul-Wahab Hanan. Charges were filed alleging that Hanan had embezzled more than GH¢70 million. Later, those charges were withdrawn and file a lesser charges.”
Mr Botchway said the pattern of events convinced him that Mr Archer’s conduct was consistent with his past.
“When you put all these things together, I am not surprised that Raymond Archer is engaging in this enterprise because, in my view, that is his specialty. That is his appetite. He is well known for damaging the reputations of people and respected members of society. The court has convicted him in the past.
“So, if such a person is trying to twist the narrative, I am not surprised.”
He also criticised EOCO’s leadership more broadly, referring to the agency’s deputy director.
“Then you look at his deputy, who also had his own encounter with the law in connection with the MV Benjamin cocaine case, where he was investigated as a suspect. When you put these two people at the helm of a sensitive institution like EOCO, what should we expect?
“One has been convicted by a court. The other was investigated in connection with a suspected cocaine scandal. These are the people now running EOCO.”
Mr Botchway further accused EOCO of undermining constitutional protections through what he described as excessive bail conditions and public pronouncements before suspects are formally charged.
“I think this is problematic. I think the authorities must sit them down and remind them that EOCO is a creature of law. It is a statutory institution and cannot operate in a manner that subverts the Constitution.
“The Constitution is clear. Once you arrest someone, within 48 hours you must either bring that person before a court or release them. The Constitution does not say that after 48 hours you should impose draconian and unreasonable bail conditions simply to keep the person in detention. That is not what the law provides, nor is it the purpose of bail.
“We must therefore be very careful. If this pattern continues, it has the potential to undermine the constitutional principle of the presumption of innocence.
“We cannot claim to be a constitutional democracy while law enforcement agencies arrest people, issue public statements, present disputed narratives as fact and make conclusive findings in the public domain before those individuals have even been formally charged and brought before a court.
“I think this is a serious issue that all of us must pay attention to because we cannot continue in this way.”
Mr Archer has publicly rejected allegations of misconduct in previous matters. The claims made by Mr Botchway during the interview reflect his views and allegations and have not been independently verified.
