The Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), Beauty Emefa Narteh, has stated that when the media fails in its duty, the public is left with incomplete and often misleading information, thereby undermining national efforts to fight corruption and recover stolen assets.
Speaking at a sensitization workshop held in Accra under the theme “Building Political Will and Public Support for Asset Recovery in Ghana,” Narteh emphasized the crucial role of the media and civil society in promoting transparency and accountability in asset recovery.
The event, organized by GACC with support from the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), brought together journalists, civil society organizations, and officials from key anti-corruption institutions.
“We need to understand Ghana’s legal framework on asset recovery and management to communicate accurate information and inspire civic engagement,” she noted.
Narteh acknowledged the growing professionalism among state institutions in recent asset recovery efforts and welcomed the decline in political interference.
She announced that similar workshops would be held in other regions to deepen public understanding and strengthen the national anti-corruption front.
Leo Anthony Siamah, Head of Legal and Prosecution at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), revealed that the agency had recovered over $79 million and GH¢200 million in assets between 2023 and 2024.
EOCO also seized or restrained more than 60 vehicles and confiscated properties linked to corruption and criminal activity.
Despite these successes, Siamah identified significant challenges, including slow international cooperation and legal delays.
He called for reforms to decentralize asset-freezing powers to enable quicker action at the district and regional levels.
“We need quicker action to secure assets before they vanish,” he urged.
He also mentioned that EOCO is enhancing its strategy by incorporating forensic accounting, digital asset tracking, and early auctions to preserve asset value.
Commissioner Albert Akurugu, Director of Asset Recovery and Management at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), reaffirmed the OSP’s authority to trace, freeze, and seize assets linked to corruption, including unexplained wealth.
“If you fail to declare your assets and we find them, it becomes an automatic forfeiture,” he stated, adding that the OSP can conduct searches without prior court approval when reasonable grounds exist.
Akurugu also disclosed that recommendations from the OSP led to a 347% increase in auction revenue at the Customs Division, following reforms to prevent the undervaluation of seized vehicles.
He urged the media to support anti-corruption efforts through responsible reporting, stressing, “Corruption thrives in darkness. The media’s role is to shed light.”
He cautioned against sensationalism, which could mislead the public and jeopardize ongoing investigations.
AM/KA
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