Parliament to draft bill to back lifestyle audit – Alban Bagbin

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Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has announced that Parliament is set to begin drafting legislation to support lifestyle audits for individuals suspected of amassing unexplained wealth, marking a significant step toward enhancing Ghana’s fight against corruption.

Speaking in Parliament on Monday, June 9, Speaker Bagbin stated that the proposed bill will empower state institutions to investigate the lifestyles of public officials, politically exposed persons, and private individuals whose standard of living does not correlate with their known sources of income.

“I am, to this end, receiving a lot of input to process legislation on lifestyle audits,” the Speaker stated.

“I’m happy to hear OSP also included it in their statement. We will legislate and stop this impunity of people flaunting ill-gotten wealth in the face of poor Ghanaians.”

He added that the move has gained traction among senior members of government and civil society, including the Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who also recently expressed support for such reforms.

The Speaker’s announcement aligns with growing calls by anti-graft advocates for more aggressive legal tools to tackle corruption.

• Read also: Special Prosecutor reiterates calls for lifestyle audits, asset seizures without conviction

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, addressing participants at the West Africa Regional Anti-Corruption Policy Dialogue in Accra, reiterated his proposal for constitutional reforms that would allow lifestyle audits and asset seizures, even without a criminal conviction.

Mr. Agyebeng described the current legal framework as outdated and ineffective for curbing modern corruption schemes.

He proposed a “reverse onus” clause that would require individuals to explain the source of their wealth or risk forfeiture of unexplained assets.

“In matters of anti-corruption, prevention is always better than cure,” he said. “Investigations and prosecutions are slow, expensive, and often unproductive due to entrenched secrecy and wealth layering.”

The Special Prosecutor stated that lifestyle audits remain one of the most cost-effective ways to expose and deter illicit enrichment, adding that asset recovery should not be contingent upon lengthy criminal proceedings.