Ghana’s parliament moves toward legislation on lifestyle audits to combat corruption
During his address in Parliament on June 9, Speaker Bagbin emphasized that various stakeholders, including civil society organizations and government officials, have voiced strong support for this initiative.
In a bold step to intensify the fight against corruption, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has revealed plans for the drafting of a new bill aimed at implementing lifestyle audits for individuals suspected of accumulating unexplained wealth.
This legislation, once passed, will give state agencies the authority to scrutinize the lifestyles of public officials, politically exposed persons, and even private citizens whose living standards appear disproportionate to their reported income.
During his address in Parliament on June 9, Speaker Bagbin emphasized that various stakeholders, including civil society organizations and government officials, have voiced strong support for this initiative. “I am currently receiving a lot of input to advance the legislation on lifestyle audits,” Bagbin said. He expressed confidence that the law would serve as a powerful tool to curb corruption, particularly in light of the rising trend of individuals flaunting wealth obtained through dubious means. "We will legislate to put an end to the impunity of individuals displaying ill-gotten wealth in front of suffering Ghanaians," he affirmed.
The proposal has also garnered endorsement from high-ranking government figures, including Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who recently backed the call for such reforms.
This initiative comes in response to mounting pressure from anti-corruption groups who argue for more robust legislative measures to tackle the growing concerns over illicit wealth accumulation.
In a related development, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, speaking at the West Africa Regional Anti-Corruption Policy Dialogue in Accra, reiterated his call for constitutional changes that would allow for lifestyle audits and the seizure of assets without the need for a criminal conviction. Agyebeng highlighted the shortcomings of the current legal framework, which he described as outdated and ineffective in addressing modern corruption techniques.
Agyebeng proposed a "reverse onus" provision, where individuals would be required to prove the legitimacy of their wealth, or face forfeiture of unaccounted assets. "In anti-corruption efforts, prevention is always more effective than the cure," he stated, stressing that lifestyle audits offer a cost-efficient and proactive means of exposing illicit enrichment. He further argued that asset recovery should not rely solely on time-consuming and expensive criminal proceedings, which often fail to yield results.
Together, these initiatives represent a concerted effort by Ghana’s government to strengthen anti-corruption measures and increase transparency in public life.
