President John Dramani Mahama has issued a firm directive to all government appointees, mandating them to declare their assets by March 31, 2025, or risk losing their positions.
Speaking at a brief ceremony at Jubilee House, where he personally submitted his asset declaration forms to the Auditor-General, President Mahama underscored his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“I have always maintained that while punishing corruption is necessary, preventing it is even more effective. The declaration of assets is an important tool in this fight, and I expect every appointee to comply,” the President stated.
He expressed concerns that many public officials may not fully grasp their legal obligation under Article 286(1) of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550).
These laws require public officers to declare their assets upon assumption of office, every four years, and at the end of their tenure.
The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, reiterated the March 31 deadline, emphasizing that all appointees had been given adequate time to fulfill their obligations.
Ghana’s asset declaration system has long faced criticism for its lack of transparency, with many arguing that the process should be more open to public scrutiny.
Addressing these concerns, President Mahama advocated for reforms that would ensure greater accountability in the fight against corruption.
“I have chosen to submit my declaration publicly to bring more openness into the process,” he noted. “If properly enforced, this can be a strong deterrent to corruption.”
The President urged the Auditor-General to actively remind public office holders of their obligations and ensure strict enforcement of the law.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on government appointees to comply with the directive, with failure to do so potentially resulting in serious consequences, including removal from office.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
Comments