Dennis Miracles Aboagye
A High Court in Accra has confirmed an order freezing five bank accounts and four landed properties belonging to former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD), Dennis Miracles Aboagye.
Aboagye is currently under investigation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over some alleged misappropriation, diversion and theft of approximately GH¢55 million in public funds during his tenure at the state agency.
The freezing order covers bank accounts linked to former Accountant of IMCCoD, Gerald Appiah, and a company identified as Hillside Piggery and Meat Processing Limited.
EOCO had gone to court seeking an order to freeze the accounts and properties as the anti-graft agency conducts further investigations into the allegations made against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) official.
The order affects two landed properties in the Eastern Region – land and a house, residential apartments and properties in the Greater Accra Region as well as five bank accounts under investigations.
Arrest
Dennis Miracles Aboagye, who also served as a senior aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, was arrested at the Accra International Airport on July 13 after officers of the Ghana Immigration Service executed a stop order placed on him by EOCO.
His arrest generated intense political debate, with the opposition NPP accusing the government of using state security agencies to intimidate political opponents.
The arrest came only hours after Mr. Aboagye publicly declared his intention to contest the position of National Communications Director of the NPP ahead of the party’s upcoming national delegates’ conference.
He was later granted a bail of GH¢50 million with three sureties, two of whom must be justified with property.
Accusations
EOCO is accusing him and the former Accountant of IMCCoD, Gerald Appiah, and other unnamed persons over alleged financial and procurement-related irregularities at the Secretariat.
The two are facing allegation of multiple criminal 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 and money laundering.
EOCO, in a statement, explained that the investigations originated from a forensic audit into the operations of IMCCoD covering the period from August 1, 2022, to February 2, 2025.
According to the agency, the current Executive Secretary of the Secretariat petitioned EOCO to undertake further investigations after reviewing the findings of the audit.
“The investigations concern suspected misappropriation, misapplication, diversion and theft of public funds amounting to approximately GH¢55 million,” the statement noted.
EOCO said the investigations had been ongoing for several months and that Mr. Aboagye was already aware of the probe, having previously engaged with investigators.
The agency further disclosed that new findings obtained strengthened its suspicions regarding alleged fraud and theft, prompting investigators to initiate an operational plan to effect his arrest.
Denial
Mr. Aboagye, in a Facebook post after meeting the bail conditions, said EOCO did not discuss any matter relating to the alleged theft of GH¢55 million public funds with him, contrary to claims circulating in sections of the media.
“FOR THE RECORDS: THERE WAS NO Discussion OF ANY GH¢55 million cedis with me by EOCO. None!!!” Dennis Miracles Aboagye wrote in the post.
Mr. Aboagye described his arrest as an unsuccessful attempt by EOCO to intimidate him. He said his detention had instead strengthened his resolve to remain steadfast, adding that he was encouraged by the support he received from party members during his time in custody.
“If the intention was to break me, it has failed. If the intention was to scare me, it has failed spectacularly. Fuel has only been added to fire. I will lead New Patriotic Party’s Communications Directorate to command the narrative, and no cell, no false story, no intimidation will change that,” he stated.
“You did not just defend Dennis Miracles Aboagye, you defended the principle that no voice can be intimidated into silence. Built to Lead. Ready to Win, #CommandTheNarrative,” he added, urging supporters to move forward “stronger, louder, together.”
BY Gibril Abdul Razak