The code of conduct set out by President John Dramani Mahama is sending a signal to fight corruption in public service, Minister of Government Communication Felix Kwakye Ofosu has said.
He makes the point that the Code of Conduct for public officers is to safeguard public resources from flagrant abuse and to check the behaviour of the President’s appointees.
Speaking on the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, May 10, he said President Mahama is committed to ensuring standards relative to the code of conduct for public officers.
“The purpose of the Code of Conduct for public officers is to safeguard public resources from flagrant abuse and to check the behavior of the President’s appointees,” he said.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu further said that President John Dramani Mahama has the record of holding his appointees responsible for their actions.
He says that President Mahama is committed to ensuring standards relative to the code of conduct for public officers.
He said “The President is committed to enforcing standards, there is every indication that President Mahama means business because he has the track record.”
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.
“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 will 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.
“In addition to one month’s salary that 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.
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.
- 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
READ ALSO: Asset declaration defiance: List of gov’t officials who missed Mahama’s March 31 deadline
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.”
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- 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.
He added, “Failure to comply can lead to suspension or dismissal.”
