Geoffrey Kabutey Ocansey, the Executive Director of Revenue Mobilisation Africa, has fumed at the description given to appointees and public officials who steal from the state coffers.
According to Geoffrey Ocansey, when a boy steals a phone at the circle, he is called a thief, but when those in suits steal, they are called financial irregularities and misappropriation.
He confidently added that those people are also thieves, as they stole from the state.
Speaking on TV3’s Agenda, Geoffrey Ocansey stated, “When a boy steals a phone at the circle, he’s a thief, but when these people steal, it’s called financial irregularities and misappropriation.
These are thieves who stole from the state. Figures show somebody deliberately sat and robbed the state, because we are in suits and we attended Legon and UCC, then we start polishing it, misappropriation, misapplication, it is thievery”.
He added, “Those of us who are also watching on, we are also supporting the act by watching on”.
His remarks follow those of Dr Dominic Ayine, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who revealed that the National Service ghost names scandal now stands at GHC2.2 billion and not GHC548 million.
According to the Attorney General, following a forensic audit by the Auditor-General, a new figure of GHC2.2 billion has been uncovered to be the amount of money stolen.
He revealed that, per this new information, the charge sheet against the suspects will be amended for fresh charges to be brought against these suspects.
Speaking at the press briefing on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Dr Dominic Ayine added, “ I wish to announce that the Auditor-General has conducted a forensic audit into the National Service scandal, and the total amount of money stolen or illegally spent now stands at GHC2.2 billion and not the GHC548 million that was uncovered by my investigators as at June 2025.
I have here a copy of the Auditor-General’s report. We are going to base upon this in some cases and amend our charge sheet in other to bring fresh charges,” he stated.
The Attorney General further revealed investigations are still ongoing in respect to the All African Games, Mathematical sets contract, Bank of Ghana new building, stadia renovation and the National Cathedral project.
“In the case of the National Cathedral, we have requested that the Auditor-General should conduct another forensic audit, and he is being helped by one of the big four accounting companies,” he remarked.
Also, Dr Ayine accused Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba, a former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company, of acquiring luxury assets by misappropriating public funds during his tenure.
According to the Attorney General, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) have traced several properties and bank transactions linked to Abdul-Wahab.
Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has revealed his outfit seeks to recover ₵125 million from the controversial revenue assurance contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and SML (Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited).
The Special Prosecutor named, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, former Commissioner-Generals of the GRA — Rev Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Emmanuel Kofi Nti, also GRA officials, Isaac Crentsil, and Kwadwo Damoa. A former member of the Finance Ministry, Ernest Akore, are expected to be charged before the end of November 2025.
Watch the video below:
“When a boy steals a phone at circle, he’s a thief but when these people steal, it’s called financial irregularities and misappropriation.—These are thieves”
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) November 6, 2025
—Geoffrey Ocansey on issues of financial crimes in the country by high level executives and appointees. pic.twitter.com/7BDqDnU547