The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has backed proposals to introduce lifestyle and wealth audits for public officials as part of efforts to detect unexplained wealth and combat corruption.

In its constitutional review statement issued on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the IEA called for the measures to be entrenched in the 1992 Constitution rather than addressed solely through ordinary legislation.

The Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Prof H. Kwasi Prempeh, proposed strengthening Article 286(4) by establishing mechanisms to investigate unexplained increases in the wealth of public officials.

The recommendations include lifestyle and wealth audits, stricter deadlines for declaring assets and a reverse burden of proof, subject to appropriate safeguards. Under such a system, a public official could be required to explain the lawful source of assets or wealth considered disproportionate to their known income.

Although the government prefers to implement the proposals through legislation, the IEA said constitutional protection would make the requirements stronger and more difficult to dilute.

“The IEA supports constitutionalising the Committee’s recommendations,” the Institute stated.

“The fight against corruption requires more than general principles; it requires clear, enforceable and credible constitutional obligations that cannot be easily amended,” it added.

The IEA said strengthening the asset declaration regime would enhance accountability and facilitate the timely identification of possible illicit enrichment among public officeholders.

“A strengthened asset declaration regime would improve accountability and provide a stronger and more timely basis for detecting and addressing illicit enrichment by public officeholders,” the Institute said.

The proposals form part of the ongoing process to amend the 1992 Constitution following the government’s consideration of recommendations presented by the Prempeh Committee.