Africa-Press – Ghana. President John Dramani Mahama has given his appointees, who failed to meet his March 31st deadline to declare their assets up to Wednesday, May 7, or consider themselves dismissed.
The Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550) mandates public officials to declare their assets and liabilities upon their assumption of office.
The law aims to prevent corruption, detect illicit enrichment, and address conflicts of interest by requiring public officials to disclose their assets and liabilities.
President Mahama gave the firm directive when he unveiled a Code of Ethics and Conduct for his Ministers and appointees, charging them to abide by it.
The Code is to regulate the conduct of the President’s appointees, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability in Government.
He noted that the Code of Ethics was more than a code and that it was a declaration of intent.
“It is the foundation of a new ethos in public service, one that values ethics over expediency, duty over indulgence, country over self. We are here to serve and will serve with honor,” the President stated.
He recalled that on the 18th of February, he set a deadline of 31st of March, for all appointees who were taking office or being nominated at the time to declare their assets.
He said an update provided by the Auditor General to his office indicates that some of them failed to meet that deadline.
“For all those who were appointed or nominated before 31st of March 2025 and failed to meet the deadline, you are to forfeit three months of salary to be donated to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, named after me, Mahama Cares,” he said.
He said this was in addition to one month’s salary, that he had asked all appointees to donate to the Mahama Cares Trust Fund.
He noted that this means that those who omitted to declare assets by the date would be paying four months’ salary to Mahama Cares.
“However, if by close of day Wednesday, 7th of May 2025, any of you still fails to declare your assets, count yourself automatically dismissed,” he said.
The President said the assets declaration regime was an important mechanism to check corruption and abuse of office, and it must be respected by all.
“Strict compliance with this code will restore confidence in the political elite and help to consolidate our democracy.”
Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, urged Ministers of State and other appointees of the President to abide by the Code of Ethics and Conduct.
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