We arrested Miracles Aboagye in connection with GH¢55m investigation – EOCO

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has confirmed that it has arrested Dennis Edward Aboagye after an airport stopover in investigations into an alleged GH¢55 million financial scandal.

Mr. Aboagye, a former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD) and a senior aide to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was arrested alongside the committee’s former accountant, Gerald Appiah, in connection with alleged financial and procurement-related irregularities at the Secretariat.

In a statement issued on Monday, EOCO said its investigations followed a petition from the current Executive Secretary of IMCCoD requesting further investigations into 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 the two former officials and others are under investigation 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, money laundering and other suspected offences.

The Office disclosed that Mr. Appiah has voluntarily begun refunding funds linked to the alleged offences. It stressed that the recoveries neither conclude the investigations nor absolve any suspect of criminal liability.

EOCO further revealed that significant new findings emerged last week regarding suspected fraud and theft involving Mr. Aboagye. As a result, investigators placed him on a Stop Order to prevent any travel that could hinder the investigation.

However, unknown to EOCO, Mr. Aboagye had already left the country before the Stop Order took effect.

The Office said officers of the Ghana Immigration Service intercepted him upon his arrival at Kotoka International Airport on Saturday night and handed him over to EOCO on Sunday morning.

He later accompanied investigators on a search, which the Office said is expected to continue.

EOCO said Mr. Aboagye would be granted bail in accordance with the Constitution and Ghana’s laws, while Mr. Appiah was also expected to satisfy his bail conditions as investigations continue.