The Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, has expressed support for President John Dramani Mahama’s ultimatum directed at government appointees who have yet to declare their assets.
He emphasized the importance of enforcing strict accountability standards within public office.
Dr. Asante’s remarks come in light of President Mahama’s directive announced during the launch of the Code of Conduct, which established a final deadline of May 7, 2025, for all appointees to comply with Ghana’s asset declaration laws. The President cautioned that failure to meet this deadline would result in immediate dismissal from office.
This directive follows the previous deadline of March 31, which was not met by certain appointees. It reflects the administration’s ongoing dedication to enhancing transparency, combating corruption, and protecting public resources.
During an interview on Citi FM, Dr. Asante underscored the importance of compliance with established regulations by individuals aspiring to public office, particularly the requirement to declare their assets prior to assuming such positions.
“There has to be some consequence. If the whole point is the appointment that they want, these are the rules of public office, which is accountability. If you don’t follow it, you don’t benefit,” he stated.
“The way people clamour for these things, if that’s what you want, then you will also have to make sure that you submit to the rules to make sure that our public interest and our public funds are protected,” he added.
He emphasized that the requirement to disclose assets is not limited to politicians alone but applies to a broader range of individuals.
“If you read Act 550, there is a long list of persons who are supposed to declare their assets. There is an omnibus clause that says everybody whose income is equivalent to a director of the civil service is also required to declare their assets,” Dr. Asante explained.
“The whole idea is that everybody who has a certain level of power or authority within the state has to declare their assets and ensure that they are not abusing their powers for private gains,” he concluded.