Accra:Dr Justice Srem-Sai, the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, has clarified that prosecution for causing financial loss is not limited to public officials alone.
According to Ghana Web, Dr Srem-Sai stated in an X post that private individuals can also be prosecuted if they cause financial loss to the state. This assertion is based on provisions within the Criminal Offences Act.
Dr Srem-Sai referenced Section 179A(2) of the Act, which specifies that causing economic or other loss to a public body during a business transaction is a criminal offence. He highlighted that this applies to both public and private individuals.
He further explained that Section 179C(b) of the Act addresses instances where private individuals collaborate with public officials to misuse their positions for personal gain. This provision reinforces that private individuals can be held accountable for contributing to the misuse of public funds or the dishonest use of public office.
Several individuals are currently facing charges as part of the government's Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative. Among those charged are former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene, former Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) board chair Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, and former GIIF Chief Executive Officer Solomon Asamoah, related to the Skytrain project.