Tensions among Ghana’s political and business elite are escalating following a significant leadership change at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). The appointment of investigative journalist-turned-public servant, Mr. Raymond Archer, as Acting Executive Director has sparked speculation about increased scrutiny of prominent business figures, particularly Dr. Daniel McKorley, widely known as McDan, the CEO of the McDan Group of Companies.
This development comes in the wake of the dramatic arrest of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP. His arrest has ignited broader public debate regarding whether state institutions are shifting towards a more aggressive stance on accountability or selectively targeting individuals tied to political rivalries.
Archer, who previously served as News Editor at the Enquirer and more recently held the position of Acting Deputy Director at EOCO, took on his new role in April 2025 following the reassignment of his predecessor, Abdulai Bashiru Dapilah, to the National Security Secretariat. His promotion is perceived as a strategic manoeuvre amid changing political dynamics and comes at a time when EOCO, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and other government agencies appear to be demanding greater transparency from some of Ghana’s leading business figures.
Particularly noteworthy is the scrutiny directed at McDan, a formidable entrepreneur whose business empire includes Electrochem Ghana Limited, the largest salt concession in Africa, located in Ada. His previous tenure as Board Chairman of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited marked a controversial period in Ghana’s private sector history.
In 2020, a government-supported redevelopment initiative at the Trade Fair site led to the demolition of various businesses, including Universal Labels and Packaging Co. Ltd (UNIPACK) and Colour Planet Limited, both owned by Archer. While McDan justified the action as a lawful step towards national redevelopment, Archer condemned it as a politically motivated assault that decimated his successful enterprises.
The long-standing rivalry between the two resurfaced in 2023 when Archer, speaking on Radio Gold, ominously stated, “McDan, he has to pray. I don’t talk too much, but he has to pray that his government stays in office forever.”
Conversely, some observers contend that the state is finally demonstrating institutional strength, asserting the independence of agencies like EOCO to conduct investigations without fear or favour, irrespective of business or political clout.
Adding further pressure on McDan’s ventures, Electrochem experienced a violent attack in January 2025, when unknown assailants, suspected to be affiliated with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), vandalised parts of its Ada concession. This incident, currently under investigation, highlights the precarious nature of high-stakes business and political interests in Ghana.
As the situation unfolds, the nation stands at a pivotal juncture: Will these recent developments herald a new era of transparency and accountability, or are they merely the precursor to an intensified power struggle between influential players on opposing sides of the political spectrum?
Watch these two interviews with Raymond Archer below….
