Speaker Bagbin Cracks Down on MP Siren Use as NPP Communications Director Contests GH¢55m EOCO Allegations

21st July•3 min read•24 sources

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has issued a stern directive to Members of Parliament (MPs) to immediately cease the unauthorized use of sirens and police escorts. Following a Cabinet directive, the Speaker emphasized that lawmakers must adhere to laws regulating the installation of emergency devices, which now require written authorization from the Minister for the Interior and the Inspector-General of Police. Bagbin warned that the Ghana Police Service has been tasked with removing unauthorized sirens and pursuing legal action against violators. This move is part of a broader government effort to curb road indiscipline and restore public confidence in state institutions by ensuring that state resources and privileges are not misused by public officials.

In a separate high-profile political development, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, has publicly challenged the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over his recent arrest. Aboagye disputes claims that he is being investigated for financial irregularities totaling GH¢55 million during his tenure at the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD). He clarified that the actual figures under discussion involve transactions of approximately GH¢9 million, a procurement matter of GH¢5.2 million, and a smaller GH¢5,000 transaction. Expressing emotional distress, Aboagye alleged that the public nature of the accusations has severely damaged his reputation and personal life, and he questioned the accuracy and origins of the figures circulated by investigators.

Adding to the climate of scrutiny on public institutions, the National Service Authority (NSA) has suspended a controversial GH¢60 deduction from service personnel allowances. The deduction, intended for a "Capacity Building Programme" organized by the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA), was halted following widespread public outcry and a petition from personnel questioning its legality and the lack of prior consultation. NASPA President Abdul Wahab Mohammed confirmed that the program is under review and that previously deducted amounts will be refunded. Meanwhile, the legal system continues to address internal payroll fraud within the NSA, with the 'ghost names' case recently adjourned to July 31 to allow the defense to review frozen bank account documents.

Broader governance concerns were further highlighted by the Auditor-General’s reports, which revealed a disturbing trend of financial inefficiency within Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). Between 2021 and 2025, various assemblies reportedly spent over GH¢22.4 million on salaries for revenue collectors who only managed to mobilize GH¢10.26 million in revenue. This inefficiency has sparked calls from former Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare for stricter enforcement of existing anti-corruption laws. She asserted that Ghana's struggles with corruption stem from a lack of accountability and inadequate enforcement of the law rather than a deficiency in the legal framework itself, urging for greater scrutiny of Auditor-General reports to safeguard public funds.

This story touches markets covered on Anansi Intelligence ↗.

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Speaker Bagbin Cracks Down on MP Siren Use as NPP Communications Director Contests GH¢55m EOCO Allegations

More from politics

President Mahama and Vice President Opoku-Agyemang Drive Governance Agenda as Ghana Reports Significant Drop in Debt Servicing Costs

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National Lottery Authority Urges Staff to End Strike Over 17% Salary Increase Demand