The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has confirmed the arrest of former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD), Dennis Edward Aboagye, and the committee’s former accountant, Gerald Appiah, as part of ongoing investigations into alleged financial and procurement-related irregularities involving approximately GH¢55 million.
In a statement issued on Monday, July 13, EOCO said the investigation stems from a petition submitted by the current Executive Secretary of IMCCoD requesting further investigations into the findings of a forensic audit covering the period from August 1, 2022, to February 2, 2025.
According to the Office, the probe concerns the “suspected misappropriation, misapplication, diversion and theft of public funds amounting to about GH¢55 million.”
EOCO said Mr. Aboagye, Mr. Appiah and other individuals are being investigated for alleged offences including conspiracy to steal, stealing, using public office for profit, causing financial loss to the state, dissipation of public funds, defrauding by false pretences and money laundering.
The anti-graft agency also disclosed that Mr. Appiah has begun refunding funds linked to the transactions under investigation.
“Gerald Appiah has voluntarily begun refunding (returning the loot) of funds connected to the crimes under investigation,” the statement said.
However, EOCO stressed that “these recoveries do not by themselves conclude the investigative process neither does it absolve any suspect of any crime.”
Explaining Mr. Aboagye’s arrest, EOCO said it uncovered “significant new findings last week relating to suspected fraud and theft” involving the former Executive Secretary, prompting investigators to initiate an operational plan to arrest him.
The Office said Mr. Aboagye, who was already aware of the investigation and had previously visited EOCO, was placed on a stop order to prevent travel that could impede the investigation. However, he had already departed the country before the order took effect.
According to the statement, officers of the Ghana Immigration Service intercepted Mr. Aboagye upon his arrival at Kotoka International Airport on Saturday night and handed him over to EOCO on Sunday morning. He subsequently accompanied investigators on a search operation on Sunday, with the exercise expected to continue on Monday.
EOCO said Mr. Aboagye will be granted bail in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of Ghana, while Mr. Appiah is expected to complete his bail conditions and be released as investigations continue.
Reaffirming its approach to the case, the Office said it “remains committed to conducting its investigations professionally, impartially and strictly within the law.”
It added that it “will continue to respect the constitutional rights of all persons under investigation while pursuing its mandate to investigate economic and organised crime and recover public assets.”
