Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu has reiterated the need for the publication of all the assets that are declared by public officials.
This, he said, would ensure transparency in the asset declaration regime.
Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, May 10, he said, “Asset declaration is one of the IMF conditionalities. Beyond the declaration, we need to publish and verify the assets of the Public appointees.”
Mr Kpebu also stressed the need for a resort to the use of the constitutional provision on asset declaration rather than the Act.
“The Constitution says before you assume office if the Act says otherwise, then you go by the Constitution,” he noted.
For her part, the Executive Secretary of the National Interest Movement, Susan Adu-Amankwah told President John Dramani Mahama to punish all the officials who failed to declare their assets.
She argues that the punishment will deter others from breaking the law.
“I would say that President Mahama should just put his foot down and punish those who flout the law. If he doesn’t, it will be business as usual; he must do the right, ” Susan Adu Amankwah said on the Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, May 10.
Prior to their comments, Minister of Government Communication Felix Kwakye Ofosu said that in the past, officials flouted the asset declaration law without any punishment meted out to them. However, President Mahama is charting a new path to punish officials who do not comply with the asset declaration regime.
“In the past, people flouted this with no consequences. This time, President Mahama is setting a certain tone,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, May 10.
“We have moved from the position where there was no sanction to where there is sanction,” he stressed.
He further said that the Auditor-General (A-G) will provide an update on the government officials who are yet to declare their assets.
He says the president will act when the update is provided by the A-G in a few days.
“The reason why we need to wait for the A-G and do a perusal is because people are appointed on a different date and time, even after the latest deadline, some people have been appointed.
“So we will get an update for the A-G to be certain of why it has not been done what and what actions will take place,” he said.
President John Dramani Mahama has penalised all his appointees who failed to meet the deadline for the declaration of assets.
He said they would all forfeit their salaries for four months.
He explained that earlier, all appointees had agreed to forfeit one-month salary.
As such, those who could not meet the deadline will forfeit three more months’ salaries.
“On 18th of February 2025, I set a deadline of 31st March for all appointees who are taking office or being nominated at the time to declare assets. An update provided by the Auditor General to my office indicates that some of you failed to meet that deadline.
“For all those who were appointed or nominated before 31st March 2025 and failed to meet the deadline, you are forfeiting three months of salary to be donated to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund named after me, Mahama Cares.
“In addition to one month’s salary, I have asked all appointees to donate to the Mahama Cares Trust Fund. So it means that those who omitted to declare their assets by the date, you are paying four months’ salary to Mahama Cares,” he said.
The President gave the defaulting appointees up to the close of day on May 7 to do the needful or be dismissed.
The President disclosed the sanctions on May 5 when he launched a Code of Conduct for Public Servants in Accra.
In February, the President issued a directive to the effect that any appointee who failed to meet the asset declaration deadline would face serious sanctions, including removal from their positions.
After the deadline, 3news sources revealed that several high-profile individuals within the Mahama administration had not submitted their asset declaration forms. These include:
Nathan Kofi Boakye, Director of Operations at the Presidency
Seth Emmanuel Terkper, Presidential Adviser on the Economy
Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States
Launching the Code of Conduct, President Mahama said it “applies broadly to ministers, deputy ministers, presidential staffers, the Chief of Staff, CEOs and their deputies, members of the Council of State, board members, and other political appointees within the executive arm of government.”
Any situation that creates a conflict between your personal interests and official duties must be either avoided or fully disclosed. This includes holding stakes in companies that conduct business with the government or your ministry, using insider information for personal gain, etc.
Appointees are prohibited from accepting gifts or favours, especially from companies or individuals with an interest in governmental decisions.
If a gift is received during an official engagement and its estimated value exceeds GHC20,000, it must be declared. Upon leaving office, the gift must be surrendered unless the President expressly permits its retention.
No government funds, including internally generated funds, are to be used to purchase or distribute hampers or gift items. The only exception is the provision of modest gifts to staff as a reward for excellence or upon retirement.
Earlier, while speaking in an interview on JoyNews, the Government’s Spokesperson, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the Code of Conduct takes immediate effect.
He added, “Failure to comply can lead to suspension or dismissal.”
