Director General of the Internal Audit Agency, Dr Eric Oduro Osae has said there is the need to question the source of wealth of persons whose income, from all indications, do not match the kind of lifestyle they live.
He noted that mostly, people are celebrated and and even given positions in churches due to the wealth they have acquired however, the source of the materials are not questioned.
He stated on the New Day show on TV3 that it is most likely that some people acquire wealth through corruption hence, the need to probe further the source of their income.
“Some people’s lifestyle do not match their income and we don’t question their source of wealth,” he told host Berla Mundi on Monday May 9.
On the issue of corruption, he said the practice should be made a high-risk in order to minimize the menaces.
“We have to make a corruption high risk area.”
It is recalled that the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyeben said during his vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Thursday July 22, 2021 that it will not be possible for him to stop corruption in Ghana.
Rather, he assured, he would make the practice a high risk activity in order to deter people from indulging in it.
“There is no way I can stop corruption, God himself will not acclaim to that. I am going to make corruption costly, a high risk activity,” he said.
He added “I will institute what I call pressure for progress. The will be a systemic review of public agencies.”
He further explained when wealth acquired by persons in Ghana can be described as unexplained wealth when he was asked to do so.
He told the Committee that if persons are unable to explain the source of the wealth as against the lawful income they earn, then it qualifies to be described as unexplained wealth.
Asked by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu to explain what unexplained wealth is, Mr Agyebeng said “It is a bit too overbroad to explain unexplained wealth in criminal jurisprudence.
“Criminal construct should be more pointed, more focused and clearly delineated because of the specter of someone ending up in jail, losing his liberty or being fined hefty fine an amount.
“And so if we are to place it in proper context unexplained wealth, I would say if the person cannot reasonably explain as march against his lawful income, the amount of money in questions then that aspect in my opinion should be criminalized but if you can reasonably explain how you came by that amount of money then that should be acceptable.”
