The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced plans to re-enact the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act to strengthen the legal framework for seizing assets linked to criminal activity.

According to Dr Ayine, the existing Act 30 limits the Attorney-General’s Office’s ability to effectively prosecute criminal cases, as it does not grant sufficient authority to recover assets connected to illegal enterprises.

Speaking during a visit by the Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, on Thursday, February 5, Dr Ayine said his office is currently working on a Criminal Proceeds Recovery Bill. The proposed legislation is expected to empower the Attorney-General’s Office to undertake both criminal confiscations and civil recoveries.

The Ministry explained that the new bill would close a major legal loophole, enhance asset recovery efforts, boost public resources, and ensure that criminal enterprises do not benefit from proceeds of unlawful activities.

“I am putting together a bill known as the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Bill that would enable us not only to use, I mean, criminal confiscations but also civil recovery. Because in that way, the standard of proof is lower."

"It’s on the balance of probability, and it will enable us, if we link any asset to criminal activity, we will be able to apply to the court to confiscate it, and then we can augment our resources,” he said.