Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has announced a proposed legislation to investigate public officials, politically exposed persons, and private individuals with a “questionable lifestyle” inconsistent with their source of income.

In a bold step to combat corruption, Parliament plans to draft a law backing lifestyle audits for individuals suspected of acquiring unexplained wealth.

According to a report by Citinewsroom.com on June 10, the proposed law is part of a broader initiative aimed at strengthening the country's fight against corruption.

The lifestyle audit law aims to:

- Curb corruption: Serve as a deterrent for persons who acquire unexplained wealth through corrupt means and restore public confidence.
- Enhance accountability: Grant authorities the power to scrutinise the lifestyles of public servants and private citizens.
- Target unexplained wealth: Investigate individuals suspected of possessing wealth they cannot justify.

Key stakeholders weigh in:

- Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman has begun discussions on the initiative, demonstrating the government’s firm resolve and support of the anti-corruption fight.
- The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) supports constitutional reforms to back lifestyle audits and asset seizures.
- Civil Society Organisations have expressed strong support for the initiative.

This move marks a significant step in the fight against corruption.

Once passed, the legislation will empower state institutions to investigate the lifestyles of public officials, politically exposed persons, and private individuals whose standard of living seems inconsistent with their declared income sources.

"I am currently receiving extensive input to initiate legislation on lifestyle audits. It is no surprise that this issue is gaining prominence in the speeches of senior officials and civil society organisations. I am encouraged that the Vice President and the Office of the Anti-Corruption Fight, Parliament, draft a law on lifestyle audits - Bagbin.

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has announced a proposed legislation to investigate public officials, politically exposed persons, and private individuals with a “questionable lifestyle” inconsistent with their source of income.

In a bold step to combat corruption, Parliament plans to draft a law backing lifestyle audits for individuals suspected of acquiring unexplained wealth.

According to a report by Citinewsroom.com on June 10, the proposed law is part of a broader initiative aimed at strengthening the country's fight against corruption.

The lifestyle audit law aims to:

- Curb corruption: Serve as a deterrent for persons who acquire unexplained wealth through corrupt means and restore public confidence.
- Enhance accountability: Grant authorities the power to scrutinise the lifestyles of public servants and private citizens.
- Target unexplained wealth: Investigate individuals suspected of possessing wealth they cannot justify.

Key stakeholders weigh in:

- Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman has begun discussions on the initiative, demonstrating the government’s firm resolve and support of the anti-corruption fight.
- The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) supports constitutional reforms to back lifestyle audits and asset seizures.
- Civil Society Organisations have expressed strong support for the initiative.

This move marks a significant step in the fight against corruption.

Once passed, the legislation will empower state institutions to investigate the lifestyles of public officials, politically exposed persons, and private individuals whose standard of living seems inconsistent with their declared income sources.

"I am currently receiving extensive input to initiate legislation on lifestyle audits. It is no surprise that this issue is gaining prominence in the speeches of senior officials and civil society organisations. I am encouraged that the Vice President and the Office of the Special Prosecutor have also begun discussions on this matter," Speaker Bagbin stated.

"We will legislate this and put an end to individuals flaunting ill-gotten wealth in the faces of ordinary Ghanaians," he further added.

By empowering authorities to investigate unexplained wealth, the proposed law could effectively stop individuals from flaunting ill-gotten wealth.

NAD/VPO

After the heavy rains over the weekend, a lot of debris has been left across many parts of Accra. Watch some of the destructions below: