President John Mahama has named Raymond Archer, a former investigative journalist and intelligence expert, as the acting Deputy Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

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The appointment aligns with the President’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative, which seeks to reclaim state assets obtained through corrupt means.

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Bringing decades of experience in intelligence and investigations, Archer is expected to play a key role in strengthening EOCO’s operations against financial crimes.

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For years, he has been deeply involved in anti-corruption efforts. Since 2019, he has led the Opponent’s Research Group (ORG), a covert investigative team focused on exposing financial irregularities and organized crime.

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His connection with EOCO dates back 14 years when he worked as a lead United Nations consultant in drafting the Economic and Organised Crime Act (2010, Act 804), which formally established the institution. His return in a leadership capacity is anticipated to enhance its investigative reach.

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With a career spanning over 15 years in national security, intelligence, and risk consulting, Archer has worked extensively across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

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As a Certified Counter Fraud Specialist, he has provided consultancy services to major global firms such as KPMG (Europe), Kroll & Associates (UK), and Risk Analysis UK.

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In addition to his investigative background, he owns cybersecurity firms with strategic partnerships with top Israeli cybersecurity companies, bringing expertise in defense intelligence and due diligence within the energy sector.

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His academic credentials include postgraduate degrees and certifications in security, intelligence, and innovation from institutions such as Leicester University, York St John University, and Portsmouth University in the UK.

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He has also completed advanced training in national security and intelligence applications at the Galilee International Management Institute in Israel and is currently furthering his studies in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the University of Texas, McCombs Business School (USA), specializing in Generative AI.

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Before transitioning into intelligence and security, Archer built a reputation as a fearless investigative journalist. In 2005, at just 29 years old, he became the first African and youngest-ever recipient of the Global Gold Medal for Excellence in Journalism from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

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His work earned him several prestigious awards, including the Lorenzo Natali Prize for Excellence in Journalism in Africa, Best West African Journalist Award from the West African Journalism Association (WAJA), and the Best Investigative Journalist in Ghana (2003/2004) from the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

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As the founder, editor, and publisher of The Enquirer newspaper and a former editor of The Ghanaian Chronicle, Archer was instrumental in exposing corruption and holding authorities accountable.

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His new role at EOCO is expected to bolster its capacity in handling high-profile corruption and financial crime cases, leveraging his vast expertise in intelligence, security, and investigative journalism.

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