EOCO headquarters drone incident could lead to 30-year prison terms

Three individuals, including a woman, have been arrested after flying drones over the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) headquarters in Accra. The incident occurred while MP Nana Agyei Baffuor Awuah, a former EOCO official, was being questioned at the facility under a court-ordered warrant.

Security consultant Dr. Ishmael Norman has characterized the incident as a severe breach of national security protocols rather than a minor regulatory error. He noted that flying drones over unauthorized security structures is a strictly prohibited activity that could carry a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

Dr. Norman emphasized that even licensed drone operators are subject to restrictions and cannot legally fly over designated security zones. He also raised concerns regarding the potential motives behind the surveillance, suggesting the drones might have been used for partisan political gain or to eavesdrop on state operations using listening devices.