The Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on Decentralisation Secretariat has rejected comments made by its former Executive Secretary, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, describing remarks he made on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen on July 21, 2026, as inaccurate and unsubstantiated.
Mr. Aboagye, who was granted bail by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on July 14, had disputed reports linking his arrest to an alleged GH¢55 million financial irregularity.
Speaking on Ekosiisen, he said investigators questioned him over transactions involving about GH¢9 million, another GH¢5,000, and a procurement matter worth GH¢5.2 million, rather than the GH¢55 million widely reported.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, July 27, the IMCC Secretariat said Mr. Aboagye’s comments misrepresented the circumstances surrounding a forensic audit conducted into the institution’s operations.
The Secretariat explained that the IMCC is a public service institution established under Section 207(3) of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), and is governed by the Public Financial Management Act, the Public Procurement Act and other laws regulating public institutions.
It said a forensic audit conducted in 2025 found Mr. Aboagye and the institution’s Accountant jointly and personally liable for several financial irregularities, including authorising or facilitating non-compliant transactions.
According to the Secretariat, Mr. Aboagye was given the opportunity to respond to the audit findings before the report was finalised, and the completed report was subsequently submitted to EOCO for further investigation.
While stating that it is unaware of the full scope of EOCO’s investigations, the Secretariat said it understands that the forensic audit forms part of a broader inquiry and pledged to continue cooperating with investigators by providing all requested documents and information.
The Secretariat also rejected Mr. Aboagye’s claim that the current Executive Secretary instructed him to stop commenting on government matters or suggested that the NDC administration had directed officials to “find something” against him.
It insisted that no such directive or conversation took place.
Instead, the Secretariat alleged that on July 18, 2025, Mr. Aboagye, through one of his lawyers and a mutual acquaintance, requested a meeting with the Executive Secretary at his lawyer’s office.
According to the statement, Mr. Aboagye asked that portions of the forensic audit be removed, including findings relating to two bank accounts, one of which allegedly recorded transactions amounting to GH¢102,256,802.69 but was not disclosed in the official handing-over notes.
The Secretariat further alleged that Mr. Aboagye also sought the removal of findings relating to PNY Investment Limited, BMABA Enterprise and GAPTE, but said the Executive Secretary declined to interfere with the audit report.
It also dismissed allegations that the audit was intended to victimise Mr. Aboagye over a previous employment-related matter, describing the claims as false and misleading.
According to the Secretariat, administrative, financial and operational audits are routine governance measures designed to strengthen accountability and are not conducted to persecute former officials.
The statement further explained that following the passage of the Local Governance Act, 2016, the Secretariat’s staff were integrated into the Office of the President and the Civil Service as part of reforms to strengthen Ghana’s decentralisation framework.
It said the integration was completed by the end of 2025, with the Secretariat now receiving its budget allocation and reporting through the Office of the President.
Reaffirming its commitment to accountability, transparency and professionalism, the IMCC Secretariat said it would not be distracted by what it described as baseless allegations intended to undermine the institution.
It also appealed to Mr. Aboagye and law enforcement agencies to facilitate the return of official documents, including previous handing-over notes referenced during his media interview, which it said are currently not in the Secretariat’s possession.
