Special Prosecutor calls for tougher laws and asset confiscation to fight corruption

Ghana’s Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, is asking for stronger laws to fight corruption, especially ones that allow the government to take away assets that public officials can’t clearly explain.

At a national anti-corruption event held under the theme “Revitalizing the Anti-Corruption Architecture in Africa: Ghana’s Accountability Journey,” Mr. Agyebeng said simply asking officials to declare their assets isn’t enough to stop corruption.

“Assets declaration alone won’t fight corruption. We must ask: are these assets honestly declared, and do they match the income levels of those who hold them? If they don’t, the law should allow for their confiscation,” he said.

He believes that instead of just focusing on jailing corrupt people, the country should focus more on recovering stolen money and property. That, he said, would be a stronger warning to others.

He also said that corruption isn’t only done by public officials. People in the private sector who bribe or influence government workers should also be held responsible.

“The fight against corruption cannot be limited to public officials alone. We must recognize that private individuals who seek to corrupt public offices are equally culpable. Our mandate has evolved, and it is time our legal framework reflects this reality,” he explained.

Mr. Agyebeng wants Ghana’s Constitution to allow lifestyle audits, regular checks to see if someone’s income can support the things they own.

“Every person must have legitimate sources of income sufficient to justify their property holdings,” he said. “When a person’s wealth significantly exceeds their legitimate earnings, that unexplained portion should be subject to confiscation.”

He said the current rules that require someone to be convicted in court before their property can be taken slow down the process. “We must shift our focus from solely criminal proceedings to civil asset recovery processes,” he added. “Conviction should not be a prerequisite for asset recovery. We need effective tools that allow us to act swiftly and decisively.”

Mr. Agyebeng also criticized the way political parties select candidates. He wants the delegate system removed and replaced with open voting at the local level to make the process fairer.

“The time for action is now,” he urged. “We cannot afford to let corruption undermine our democracy and development.”