Leading anti-corruption bodies have called for stronger laws and greater media involvement to improve Ghana’s asset recovery efforts.
The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) raised concerns over Ghana’s current legal and institutional capacity to retrieve misappropriated public assets.
The call was made during a sensitisation workshop in Accra, jointly organised by GACC and the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
The event was on the theme “Building Political Will and Public Support for Asset Recovery in Ghana.” It sought to empower civil society and the media in anti-corruption efforts.
Mr. Albert Akurugu, Director of Asset Recovery at the OSP, highlighted the Office’s mandate to investigate corruption, recover assets, and prevent future infractions.
He described the media as essential allies in that mission.
“Corruption thrives in darkness, but when you shine a light on it, it becomes vulnerable. Who better to shed that light than the media?” he said, urging journalists to act as partners rather than mere observers.
He also cautioned against unsubstantiated reporting that could disrupt investigations.
Ms. Yvette Anthea Owusu, an analyst at the FIC, described corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain” and observed that it thrives in settings with weak accountability.
She noted that Ghana’s asset recovery framework aligns with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and emphasised the FIC’s authority to freeze assets under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Act 1044, 2020).
Mr. Leo Anthony Siamah, EOCO’s Head of Legal and Prosecution, reported that from 2023 to 2024, EOCO recovered over GH¢270 million and seized or restrained over 60 stolen vehicles.
In 2025 alone, more than 40 vehicles have been recovered.
Mr. Siamah stated that EOCO now applied parallel financial investigations to trace illicit assets from the outset of each case, including those linked to associates of suspects.
He noted that, under current law, even a mere suspicion of illicit financial activity is enough to freeze a bank account for up to a year.
Mr. Siamah encouraged the media, civil society, and the public to make use of legal tools like the Right to Information Act, Whistle-blowers Act, and Witness Protection Act to improve transparency and accountability.