Ex-PAC Chairman Avedzi Criticizes Ghana's Approach to Corruption: "Recovering Stolen Money Isn't Enough"

• Former PAC Chairman James Klutse Avedzi calls for harsher penalties for corrupt officials.

• Says allowing offenders to simply return stolen money without punishment encourages corruption.

• Pushes for stricter legal actions against those implicated in Auditor General's reports.

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Avedzi argues that recovering stolen funds isn’t enough and calls for
stricter anti-corruption measures

Former Chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and current Director General of the Securities and Exchanges Commission, James Klutse Avedzi, has strongly criticized the lack of legal consequences for corrupt officials who misappropriate public funds.

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Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition, Avedzi acknowledged that while recovering stolen money is crucial, it should not replace legal punishment.

"The recovery of the money is good. It’s okay. We should do that. But that should not mean that we are focusing only on the recovery of the money and leaving the punishment part," he said.

Avedzi raised concerns about how corrupt individuals continue to benefit from stolen funds, even after being caught.

"Someone takes $10 million of government money and trades on that money, makes an additional $5 million, and is caught. They have to pay only the $10 million. How about the $5 million profit or interest that the person has made?" he questioned.

According to him, this "payback-and-walk-free" approach to corruption emboldens offenders and turns public sector theft into a risk-free financial transaction rather than a serious crime.

Avedzi expressed frustration over the perception that public funds can be taken at will and returned later without repercussions.

"Why do you want to take government’s money and then later give it back? Government needs money to do projects for everybody, but you want to take it as an individual. It’s wrong," he emphasized.

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He warned that the failure to criminalize corrupt officials fosters a culture of impunity within Ghana’s public sector.

Avedzi’s remarks add to growing demands for stricter legal actions against public officials implicated in the Auditor General’s reports for misappropriating state resources.

While recovery of stolen money remains an essential step, experts and anti-corruption advocates argue that criminal prosecution is equally important to deter others from engaging in corrupt practices.

The former PAC Chairman is now pushing for a shift in Ghana’s anti-corruption strategy—from mere reimbursements to stringent legal consequences, including jail time and asset seizures, ensuring that those who steal from the state face the full force of the law.

As calls for accountability intensify, the question remains: Will Ghana finally take a tougher stance on corruption, or will impunity continue to thrive?

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