Speaker Bagbin Backs Law on Lifestyle Audits to Tackle Unexplained Wealth
Accra, Ghana – June 11, 2025
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has revealed that Ghana’s Parliament is preparing to draft a new law to introduce lifestyle audits, targeting individuals suspected of acquiring unexplained wealth.
The Speaker made the announcement as part of Parliament’s broader strategy to intensify the fight against corruption and hold both public and private individuals accountable for their financial conduct.
The proposed legislation will grant state institutions the authority to investigate the lifestyle patterns of public officials, politically exposed persons (PEPs), and private citizens whose standard of living exceeds their declared income.
“I am currently receiving extensive input to initiate legislation on lifestyle audits,” Speaker Bagbin stated. “It’s no surprise that this issue is gaining prominence in the speeches of senior officials and civil society organisations.”
He noted that the initiative has already gained support from Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), signalling a unified government effort to tackle corruption and illicit enrichment.
“We will legislate it and put an end to individuals flaunting ill-gotten wealth in the faces of ordinary Ghanaians,” the Speaker declared.
What Lifestyle Audits Entail
Lifestyle audits involve examining an individual’s spending habits, properties, and lifestyle choices to determine whether they align with their declared sources of income. The goal is to identify and investigate suspicious wealth accumulation and deter corruption, especially within the public sector.
If passed, the law will provide legal backing for anti-corruption bodies to pursue investigations based not only on bank transactions and asset declarations, but also on observable disparities in lifestyle.
Public Response and Outlook
The announcement has been welcomed by many civil society organisations and anti-corruption advocates, who have long called for such a mechanism to address impunity and restore public confidence in governance.
Observers say the success of such legislation will depend on independent enforcement, transparency, and the political will to act on audit findings regardless of status or affiliation.
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