The Accra High Court has granted an order allowing the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to freeze the assets of Dennis Miracles Aboagye as investigations into alleged financial and procurement-related irregularities continue.
The Accra High Court has approved a freezing order requested by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) against the assets of Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD).The ongoing Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) investigation and subsequent High Court freezing order against Dennis Miracles Aboagye span seven specific criminal counts and statutory frameworks under Ghanaian law.
1. Specific Alleged Charges
EOCO’s investigation centers on suspected financial irregularities totaling approximately GH¢55 million during Aboagye’s tenure at the Secretariat of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD):
- Conspiracy to Steal & Stealing: Allegations involving the unlawful taking and appropriation of public funds belonging to the IMCCoD Secretariat.
- Causing Financial Loss to the State: Accusations that actions or omissions by officers led to a direct, unauthorized financial drain on public coffers.
- Using Public Office for Profit: Allegations of leveraging official executive authority to secure personal financial gain or unauthorized benefits.
- Dissipation of Public Funds: Alleged reckless, unjustified, or unauthorized expenditure of public resources allocated to decentralization programs.
- Money Laundering: Concealing, disguising, acquiring, or transferring assets derived from unlawful activity.
- Defrauding by False Pretences: Misrepresenting facts or processes to facilitate the illegal disbursement of funds.
2. Governing Acts & Statutory Provisions
The case against Aboagye relies on key provisions within Ghanaian criminal jurisprudence and financial administration laws:
| Legislation | Applicable Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) | Governs core penal offences, including Stealing (Section 124), Conspiracy (Section 23), Defrauding by False Pretences (Section 131), and Willfully Causing Financial Loss to the State (Section 179A). |
| Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044) | Establishes criminal liability for possessing, converting, or disguising property or financial assets derived from predicate offences. |
| Economic and Organised Crime Office Act, 2010 (Act 804) | Grants EOCO statutory authority to investigate specialized financial crimes, execute freeze orders, place Stop Orders at ports of entry, and apply for court-ordered asset preservation. |
| Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) | Regulates the lawful commitment, disbursement, and accounting of state revenues and public funds allocated to government secretariats. |
3. Mechanics of the Asset Freezing Order
Under Sections 33 and 34 of Act 804, EOCO is empowered to apply to the High Court ex parte or on notice to freeze accounts and property if there are reasonable grounds to suspect they represent proceeds of crime.
The order forces financial institutions and the Lands Commission to restrict all transactions regarding the 5 bank accounts and 4 real estate properties named in the application until formal charges are filed or investigations conclude.
Key Details of the Investigation
Co-Accused & Status: Gerald Appiah, an accountant at IMCCoD, is also named in the investigation and has been cooperating with authorities. Aboagye was previously arrested at Kotoka International Airport in July 2026, interviewed, and granted bail as investigations continue.
Allegations: The probe stems from a forensic audit into IMCCoD activities covering August 1, 2022, to February 2, 2025. EOCO is investigating alleged financial misconduct involving approximately GH¢55 million.
Charges Under Investigation: Suspected offences include conspiracy to steal, stealing, using public office for profit, causing financial loss to the state, dissipation of public funds, money laundering, and defrauding by false pretences.
Asset Freezing: The court order enables EOCO to secure and preserve accounts, property, and assets tied to Aboagye while the ongoing financial and procurement-related investigation proceeds.
