Former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMMCCoD), Dennis Miracles Edward Aboagye, who is under investigation for allegedly misappropriating GH¢55 million in public funds, has been granted bail of GH¢50 million with two sureties.
Mr Aboagye secured his release after satisfying all the bail conditions following his arrest on Saturday, July 11.
At the time of going to press, he had been escorted by investigators from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) from its cells to his residence at Larteh Akuapem in the Eastern Region to facilitate a search connected with the ongoing investigations.
EOCO, on Monday confirmed the arrest of Mr Aboagye over alleged offences, including stealing.
He is being investigated together with the former Accountant of IMMCCoD, Gerald Appiah, for conspiracy to steal, stealing, using public office for profit, causing financial loss to the state, dissipation of public funds, defrauding by false pretences, money laundering and other suspected offences.
In a statement copied to The Ghanaian Times, EOCO said the arrests followed investigations arising from a forensic audit of IMMCCoD covering the period from August 1, 2022, to February 2, 2025.
Mr Aboagye, a former Communications Director of the 2024 presidential campaign team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, was arrested at the Accra International Airport on Saturday night by officers of the Ghana Immigration Service and handed over to EOCO on Sunday morning.
According to EOCO, Mr Appiah, the alleged co-conspirator, had already begun refunding the alleged stolen funds.
The office said both suspects would be granted bail in accordance with the 1992 Constitution.
EOCO stated that Mr Aboagye was already aware of the investigations and had previously honoured invitations to assist with them.
It explained that an operational plan had been initiated to effect his arrest as part of the investigative process and that a Stop Order had been placed on him a week earlier to prevent any travel that could obstruct the investigations.
However, EOCO said it later discovered that Mr Aboagye had already travelled outside the country before the Stop Order was enforced.
It further noted that upon his return to the Accra International Airport on Saturday night, officers of the Ghana Immigration Service executed the Stop Order and handed him over to EOCO the following morning.
EOCO disclosed that Mr Aboagye subsequently accompanied investigators on a search on Sunday, with further searches expected to continue.
It also indicated that Mr Appiah was expected to complete his bail conditions and be released while investigations continued.
EOCO reaffirmed its commitment to conducting the investigations professionally, impartially and strictly within the confines of the law.
“The office will continue to respect the constitutional rights of all persons under investigation while pursuing its mandate to investigate economic and organised crime and recover public assets,” the statement emphasised.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
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