By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Governance expert, Dr. Eric Oduro Osae has proposed the introduction of comprehensive lifestyle audits as part of Ghana’s anti-corruption strategy.
Speaking on GBC’s Current Agenda, Dr. Osae argued that lifestyle audits, where the income and assets of public officials are measured against their known sources of earnings could serve as a powerful tool in fighting corruption and strengthening accountability.
“It is about time we mainstream lifestyle audits into national governance. This is not just about officeholders; even private citizens in sensitive roles should be subject to scrutiny. If we are not careful, we risk becoming a society where corruption is normalized,” he warned.
Dr. Osae stressed that in many developed systems, lifestyle audits are used to ensure that individuals can justify their wealth, pay their taxes, and explain discrepancies between their income and expenditure. He added that such audits should be applied fairly and consistently, without political bias.
According to him, the initiative should not only be led by state bodies like the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), but should also extend to civil society, churches, and professional associations, encouraging citizens to question unexplained wealth.
He also pointed to the recent case involving dancehall artiste Shatta Wale, who was questioned by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) over the acquisition of a luxury Lamborghini linked to a U.S.-based financial fraud case. Dr. Osae noted that such high-profile incidents highlight the need for routine lifestyle audits, which would prevent society from relying only on “special investigations” after scandals break out.
“A lifetime system of accountability teaches society to ask hard questions—about where wealth comes from and whether it is legitimate. That is the only way we can strengthen governance and build integrity in our institutions,” he said.
Dr. Osae concluded that without lifestyle audits, Ghana risks entrenching corruption, weakening governance systems, and undermining public trust in leadership.
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