Governance expert and policy analyst, Professor Enoch Opoku Antwi, has said societal expectations are fueling corruption in Ghana.
Speaking ahead of Media General’s Dialogue on “Lifestyle Audits: Enhancing Public Service Ethics” on Monday, November 24, 2025, he noted that people in authority often steal public funds to meet the lifestyle status society expects of them.
“Expectations corrupt people. And our expectation as a people is that, when you get to public office, you need a flashy car and a lot of cash. You need some houses, you need to employ some people at different places, you need to buy aboboyaa and some taxis for people to drive for you,” Prof. Antwi explained.
He emphasised the importance of whistle-blowing in fighting corruption, stating, that “the first thing [in fighting corruption] is whistle blowing. If you see something, you say it.”
According to him, while some individuals are skilled at hiding their ill-gotten wealth, scrutinising those whose lifestyles exceed their means is crucial.
“Some lifestyles are so secretive that you cannot pinpoint what somebody is doing,” he said, highlighting the need for the citizenry to be vigilant in ensuring that people don’t loot the state at the expense of the masses.
He added that people often try to outsmart the system to avoid being caught, but it’s essential to hold them accountable.
By addressing societal expectations and encouraging whistle-blowing, Ghanaians can work towards a more accountable and just society. Prof. Antwi’s comments underscore the complexity of corruption and the need for a multifaceted approach to tackle it.
The calls for lifestyle audits have become rife in Ghana, following corruption and corruption-related cases that have characterised public office in the country over the years. This has created the need to have a law that will guide the enforcement in that regard.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, in June 2025, announced that Parliament was set to begin drafting a legislation to support lifestyle audits for individuals suspected of amassing unexplained wealth in the country.
The law will help Ghana’s fight against corruption, where persons who acquire wealth suspected to be outside their income stream would be put before the law to proof the authenticity of their wealth.
The Speaker, addressing the House on Monday, June 9, 2025, he noted that the proposed bill would empower state institutions to investigate the lifestyles of public officials, politically exposed persons, and private individuals whose standard of living does not correlate with their known sources of income.
“I am, to this end, receiving a lot of input to process legislation on lifestyle audits,” Mr. Bagbin stated. “I’m happy to hear OSP also included it in their statement. We will legislate and stop this impunity of people flaunting ill-gotten wealth in the face of poor Ghanaians.”
He shared how the proposal has gained traction among senior members of government and civil society, including Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who also recently expressed support for such reforms.
Speaker Bagbin’s announcement aligns with growing calls by anti-corruption institutions and advocates who are calling for aggressive legal tools to fight graft in the country.
Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor, William Kissi Agyebeng, has also shared how his outfit is working to ensure there are constitutional reforms to allow lifestyle audits and asset seizures, even without a criminal conviction.
Addressing participants at the West Africa Regional Anti-Corruption Policy Dialogue in Accra, Mr. Agyebeng described as outdated, the current legal framework, saying they are ineffective for curbing modern corruption schemes.
He proposed a “reverse onus” clause that would require individuals to explain the source of their wealth or risk forfeiture of unexplained assets.
“In matters of anti-corruption, prevention is always better than cure,” he said. “Investigations and prosecutions are slow, expensive, and often unproductive due to entrenched secrecy and wealth layering.”
The Special Prosecutor stated that lifestyle audits remain one of the most cost-effective ways to expose and deter illicit enrichment, adding that asset recovery should not be contingent upon lengthy criminal proceedings.
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