President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana announced that he had publicly submitted his asset declaration to the Auditor General on Tuesday, a mandatory step he intends to hold up as a symbol of his commitment to transparency and preventing corruption.
In accordance with Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders Act of 1998, President Mahama submitted his asset declaration forms to the Auditor General.
The submission was done publicly, an unusual move aimed at “promoting openness and transparency” in the process.
Mahama, who returned to power eight years after his defeat by former President Nana Akufo-Addo, stressed that while cracking down on corruption is commendable, preventing it is more effective.
For him, the declaration of assets, when it is “properly developed and applied,” can constitute a sustainable tool in the fight against this scourge.
Through this gesture, he also intends to send “an unequivocal signal” to all public office holders, in particular those he has appointed, on the importance he attaches to this obligation and on his expectation of “total respect” on their part.
AC/fss/gik/APA