Omanghana
Dr. Justice Srem-Sai says the former IMCCoD executive secretary was questioned about an alleged financial irregularity, contrary to claims made by Aboagye and his lawyer.
Ghana’s Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, has disputed claims by Dennis Miracles Aboagye that investigators did not question him about an alleged GH¢55 million financial irregularity during his detention.
Speaking on 3FM’s Hot Issues, Srem-Sai said Aboagye was aware of the reasons for his arrest and was interrogated about the funds under investigation.
His comments contradict public statements made by Aboagye and his lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, following the politician’s release from the custody of the Economic and Organized Crime Office.
Aboagye, a New Patriotic Party communicator and former executive secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralization, has maintained that investigators did not mention the GH¢55 million figure during his questioning.
Conflicting Accounts of EOCO Interrogation
The dispute centers on what transpired during Aboagye’s engagement with EOCO officials.
After his release, Aboagye said the widely reported GH¢55 million figure was not raised during his interrogation. His legal team has supported that account, accusing state officials and sections of the media of creating a misleading narrative around the investigation.
Atta Akyea said the alleged multi-million-cedi irregularity did not arise during the defense team’s engagement with investigators.
Srem-Sai rejected those claims, insisting that the suspected misapplication of the funds formed a central part of EOCO’s inquiry.
According to the deputy attorney general, Aboagye “knows exactly why he was arrested.” He described the suggestion that the matter was never discussed as inaccurate.
The conflicting statements have intensified public debate about the investigation and the manner in which information about it has been communicated.
Arrested at Kotoka International Airport
Aboagye was arrested on the night of July 11, 2026, at Kotoka International Airport after returning from the United States.
Officers of the Ghana Immigration Service reportedly enforced a stop order against him before handing him over to EOCO the following morning.
Stop orders are generally used to prevent persons of interest from leaving or entering the country without being intercepted by the relevant authorities. Their enforcement does not by itself establish criminal guilt.
Aboagye was subsequently detained for two days while investigators questioned him about activities connected to his tenure at the IMCCoD Secretariat.
Investigation Covers IMCCoD Operations
EOCO’s investigation reportedly concerns the operations and financial management of the IMCCoD Secretariat between August 2022 and February 2025.
The inquiry followed a petition based on a forensic audit submitted by the institution’s current executive secretary.
Investigators are examining the conduct of Aboagye, former accountant Gerald Appiah and other individuals associated with the secretariat during the period under review.
The suspected offenses being investigated include conspiracy to steal, stealing, using public office for profit, causing financial loss to the state and money laundering.
These remain allegations under investigation. Aboagye, Appiah and any other individuals named in the inquiry are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless they are charged and found guilty by a court.
Aboagye Granted GH¢50 Million Bail
After spending two days in custody, Aboagye was granted bail in the sum of GH¢50 million.
The size of the bail generated public discussion, with his supporters describing it as excessive and politically motivated. State officials, however, have defended the investigation as part of efforts to protect public resources and ensure accountability.
Bail is not a punishment or a finding of guilt. It is intended to secure a suspect’s cooperation and attendance during an investigation or subsequent court proceedings.
The exact conditions attached to Aboagye’s bail and whether EOCO intends to bring formal charges will depend on the outcome of the ongoing inquiry.
Aboagye Says Arrest Damaged His Reputation
Speaking on Asempa FM after his release, Aboagye said the arrest and accompanying media coverage had caused serious damage to his reputation.
He described himself as having been “deeply humiliated, defamed and unfairly treated.” He also said the controversy had placed considerable emotional strain on him and his family.
His legal team has suggested that official statements and media reports portrayed him as guilty before the completion of the investigation.
The defense is expected to continue challenging the state’s account while demanding that any evidence against Aboagye be tested through the appropriate legal process.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
The public disagreement between Srem-Sai and Aboagye has introduced a new dimension to the case, but it does not determine the legal outcome.
EOCO must complete its investigation and establish whether sufficient evidence exists to support criminal charges. If charges are filed, prosecutors will be required to prove them in court beyond a reasonable doubt.
Aboagye and the other individuals under investigation will also have the right to examine the evidence, challenge the prosecution’s claims and present their defense.
Until that process is completed, the alleged GH¢55 million irregularity remains a matter under investigation rather than an established loss or criminal offense.
Source: Omanghana
