EOCO says ex-IMCCoD accountant has started refunding money linked to alleged GH¢55m fraud

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has disclosed that Gerald Appiah, the former accountant of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD), has voluntarily started refunding funds allegedly linked to an ongoing investigation into the suspected misappropriation of approximately GH¢55 million.

In a statement issued on Monday, July 13, 2026, EOCO clarified that the repayments do not mark the end of the investigation or absolve any suspect of potential criminal responsibility.

According to the Office, the investigation remains active and all persons implicated will continue to be subjected to due legal process.

EOCO stated that Mr Appiah, together with the former Executive Secretary of IMCCoD, Dennis Edward Aboagye, also known as Miracles, and other unnamed individuals, remain under investigation over several alleged offences.

The alleged offences under investigation include:

• Conspiracy to steal
• Stealing
• Causing financial loss to the state
• Using public office for profit
• Dissipation of public funds
• Defrauding by false pretences
• Money laundering

The Office stressed that investigations are ongoing and that no conclusions have yet been reached regarding the culpability of any of the suspects.

According to EOCO, the investigation was initiated following a forensic audit into the operations of the IMCCoD Secretariat covering the period from August 2022 to February 2025.

The audit was conducted after a petition submitted by the current Executive Secretary of the Secretariat requested further investigations into the management of public funds during the period under review.

EOCO said the forensic findings prompted the Office to commence criminal investigations into the alleged diversion and misuse of public resources.

The anti-corruption agency emphasised that voluntarily refunding money under investigation does not automatically extinguish any potential criminal liability.

EOCO explained that while the repayments may form part of the investigative process, they neither terminate the probe nor prevent the Office from pursuing prosecution where sufficient evidence exists.

EOCO further disclosed that Gerald Appiah is expected to satisfy the remaining conditions attached to his bail before being released from custody while investigations continue.

The Office reiterated its commitment to conducting the investigation professionally, impartially and strictly within the framework of Ghana's laws.

It assured the public that the probe into the alleged GH¢55 million misappropriation would continue until all relevant facts have been established.