Parliament to Enact Lifestyle Audit Act – Speaker Alban Bagbin
Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has announced that Parliament will soon begin drafting a Lifestyle Audit Act. The goal: empower state agencies to investigate situations where individuals’ lifestyles appear inconsistent with their declared income—a critical step to curb corruption. 1. A Shield Against Illicit Wealth The bill is designed to enable institutions like the Special Prosecutor’s Office, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to initiate audits on both public officials and politically exposed persons when their private expenditures exceed legal income sources. 2. Broad Stakeholder Backing Speaker Bagbin noted that he’s received significant input from diverse stakeholders—including civil society groups, the Vice President, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor—to support the draft legislation. 3. Special Prosecutor’s Position Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has previously called for such legal reforms, advocating for constitutional backing […]
