President John Dramani Mahama has appointed renowned investigative journalist and intelligence specialist Raymond Archer as the Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).

This appointment aligns with the President’s ambitious anti-corruption initiative, the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative, which seeks to reclaim illicitly acquired state assets.

Sources indicate that since 2019, Archer has led a covert investigative team known as the Opponent’s Research Group (ORG), which specializes in high-profile corruption and organized crime investigations. His new role at EOCO is expected to leverage this experience to strengthen the fight against financial crimes.

Raymond Archer’s history with EOCO dates back 14 years when he served as a lead United Nations consultant, contributing to the establishment of the Economic and Organized Crime Act (2010, Act 804), which later formalized EOCO. His return to the institution in a leadership role is seen as a strategic move to enhance EOCO’s investigative capabilities.

Raymond Archer has an extensive background in national security, intelligence, and risk consulting, spanning over 15 years across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

He is a Certified Counter Fraud Specialist and has provided consultancy services in the fields of risk analysis and global investigations, working with firms such as KPMG in Europe, Kroll & Associates in the UK, and Risk Analysis UK.

Additionally, he owns cybersecurity firms with partnerships with top Israeli cybersecurity companies. His experience extends to the defense industry and due diligence investigations in the energy sector.

Archer has also contributed as a consultant for major international media organizations, including C-Span TV (USA) and Nordic Film TV (Sweden).

Raymond Archer holds multiple postgraduate degrees and certifications in security, intelligence, and innovation from prestigious institutions, including Leicester University, York St. John's University, and Portsmouth University in the UK.

He also holds diplomas in national security and intelligence applications from the Galilee International Management Institute in Israel.

Currently, he is furthering his education as a postgraduate student in Artificial Intelligence, specializing in Generative AI at the University of Texas, McCombs Business School, USA.

Before transitioning into intelligence and security, Archer was a decorated investigative journalist. In 2005, at age 29, 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). He also won the Lorenzo Natali Prize for Excellence in Journalism in Africa.

He was also Co-winner of Best West African Journalist, West African Journalist Association (WAJA) and Best Investigative Journalist in Ghana for 2003/2004 from Ghana Journalist Association (GJA). Raymond Archer was adjudged the Overall Best Student of Practical Attachment at Ghana Institute of Journalism.

As the founder, editor, and publisher of The Enquirer newspaper, and former editor of The Ghanaian Chronicle, Raymond Archer’s work in journalism played a pivotal role in exposing corruption and holding power to account.

Archer’s appointment is expected to boost EOCO’s operational effectiveness, particularly in tackling high-profile corruption cases and financial crimes.