Former Auditor-General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo, has suggested to the Chief of Staff to set a deadline for all persons who will be given appointments by the President to declare their assets.
This follows President Mahama’s call on his appointees to declare their assets after swearing-in the first batch of his ministers for undergoing a successful vetting.
Ghana’s constitution demands holders of public office to declare their assets. But many have criticised the provision saying it is shrouded in opacity. The law in its current form does not require verification of the stated assets on the form which is sealed in an envelope until a court orders for it to be opened.
In Domelevo’s view, all government appointees must be made to declare their assets a week after taking office.
“I propose that the Chief of Staff announce that, a week after your swearing-in, you must declare your assets and liabilities. You should be able to find two or three hours to do this. I wish the Chief of Staff would set a deadline, not in terms of a specific day, but a period, saying that you have one week from the day you are sworn in to declare your assets,” he said on Accra-based JoyNews Thursday, January 23, 2025.
He explained that the deadline is crucial as appointees might be busy to do so after taking office.
“After one week, by the second week, they become seriously busy,” he explained.
Meanwhile, he highlighted the need to publish the assets for the public to know what these officials own before taking their respective responsibilities.
He lauded President Mahama for calling on his appointees to declare their assets, adding that persons who flout that law on asset declaration must not go unpunished.
Asset Declaration Act: Domelevo wants A-G’s office excused from overseeing obligation
