The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has called for sweeping constitutional reforms to strengthen Ghana’s anti-corruption framework, with lifestyle audits at the center of its proposals.
In its 2025 Half-Year Report, the OSP confirmed that it made both an in-person presentation and a memorandum submission to the Constitution Review Committee, urging amendments to anchor anti-corruption measures in the supreme law of the Republic.
The Office proposed three major reforms:
- The insertion of a dedicated anti-corruption chapter in the Constitution.
- The consolidation of anti-corruption mandates in the OSP, with enhanced powers.
- Formal collaboration between the OSP and the Ghana Audit Service to strengthen the asset declaration and verification regime.
At the heart of these reforms is the demand for constitutional recognition of lifestyle audits and non-conviction-based asset recovery as the foundation of anti-corruption efforts.
The OSP stated:
“The fight against corruption should be founded on lifestyle audit non-conviction-based asset recovery, enhanced asset declaration and verification regime, and a reverse onus presumption of corruption as the foundation of both anti-corruption criminal proceedings and civil asset recovery proceedings.”
According to the report, this approach reflects global best practices, which identify lifestyle audits as “the fairest and optimal method of frontally addressing corruption and unexplained wealth in both public and private contexts.”
The OSP emphasized that a constitutional lifestyle audit framework should cover not only public officers but also politically exposed persons and private sector actors suspected of corruption.
“Thus, where a person’s resources far outstrip his legitimate income, the unexplained portion should be liable to confiscation on the presumption that it was acquired through corrupt means unless the person ably sets aside the presumption by establishing legitimate source(s) of the resources,” the OSP argued.
The Office further highlighted that such a regime would be a critical tool in detecting fraud and undeclared income for tax purposes, ensuring that corruption and illicit wealth accumulation do not escape scrutiny.
Why Lifestyle Audits Matter in Ghana
Ghana has, in recent years, witnessed an increasing display of wealth that often raises eyebrows. From young public officers driving luxury vehicles far beyond their official pay grade, to unexplained ownership of plush mansions, lavish weddings, and expensive foreign trips, many lifestyles simply do not match legitimate income levels.
This situation fuels public suspicion and weakens trust in institutions. Ordinary citizens often ask how some individuals, especially those in public office, are able to accumulate such visible wealth in such a short time. Critics argue that without lifestyle audits, corruption can easily be disguised as “success” while the state loses billions in revenue.
A constitutionally backed lifestyle audit, as proposed by the OSP, would provide a clear legal basis to demand accountability: if one’s lifestyle significantly outpaces declared earnings, the unexplained portion would be presumed corrupt until proven otherwise.
By institutionalizing lifestyle audits, Ghana could not only curb corruption and illicit wealth but also promote fairness, transparency, and confidence in governance.
If accepted, the proposals could mark a transformative shift in Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture, giving the OSP and oversight bodies the constitutional backing to pursue illicit wealth even without criminal conviction.
