High Court freezes five bank accounts, four properties of Miracles Aboagye in GHC55m probe

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The High Court in Accra has ordered the freezing of five bank accounts and four landed properties belonging to Mr. Dennis Miracles Aboagye, former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD), as part of an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

The court order, obtained by the Daily Graphic, temporarily restrains all transactions on the identified bank accounts and prohibits the sale, transfer, mortgage or disposal of the four properties pending further directives from the court.

The directive forms part of EOCO’s efforts topreserve assets that may be connected to suspected economic crimes, preventing their dissipation before investigations are concluded.

The allegations

Mr. Aboagye is currently under investigation over alleged financial and procurement-related irregularities involving approximately GH¢55 million during his tenure at the IMCCoD. EOCO is scrutinising transactions, procurement processes and contract awards undertaken between 2021 and 2025 to determine whether any financial impropriety occurred.

The investigation is understood to focus on suspected inflated contracts, unauthorised payments and possible conflict of interest in the award of certain deals. Sources close to the probe indicate that EOCO has gathered documentary evidence and interviewed several former officials of the committee.

Legal framework

Under Ghanaian law, investigative bodies such as EOCO may apply to the courts for preservation orders under the Economic and Organised Crime Act, 2010 (Act 804), where they have reasonable grounds to believe that assets are linked to suspected crime. Such orders are interim measures designed to safeguard assets while investigations are ongoing and do not constitute a finding of guilt.

The court order is expected to remain in force until EOCO completes its investigations and either files charges or applies for a final forfeiture order, should evidence warrant it.

Background on IMCCoD and Mr. Aboagye

The IMCCoD was established to coordinate the implementation of Ghana’s decentralisation policy across all ministries, departments and agencies. Mr. Aboagye, a political appointee and former National Youth Authority official, served as Executive Secretary until his resignation in 2025 amid mounting scrutiny over the committee’s financial management.

His tenure was marked by a significant expansion of the committee’s activities, but also by questions from civil society and auditors regarding the transparency of its procurement processes.

Bail and denial

Mr. Aboagye has firmly denied all allegations, maintaining that he acted within the law and that the transactions under investigation were legitimate and properly documented. He was granted bail in the sum of GH¢50 million with three sureties, one of the highest bail amounts in recent high-profile financial crime cases.

His legal team has indicated that they will challenge the preservation order in court, arguing that EOCO has not provided sufficient evidence to justify the freezing of his assets.

Public interest and implications

The case has reignited public debate about accountability in public office and the effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions in Ghana. Civil society organisations have welcomed EOCO’s proactive approach but have called for a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure that due process is followed.

The development also underscores the growing willingness of Ghanaian courts to grant preservation orders in financial crime cases, a trend that observers say reflects a tougher stance against economic malfeasance.

As the investigation progresses, all eyes will be on EOCO to determine whether it can build a case strong enough to secure a conviction or forfeiture—a test that will be closely watched by both anti-corruption advocates and public officials alike.