The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and Member of Parliament for the Krowor Constituency, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has thrown her weight behind President Mahama’s directive for all government appointees to declare their assets, describing it as a vital step toward transparency and accountability.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Ghana Weekend, the Minister revealed that she promptly took steps to comply with the directive even before her vetting.
“Thankfully, as soon as my name came up, I went for the asset declaration form. So, by the time I went for my vetting, I had already declared my assets. When His Excellency came with it, I had already done mine,” she said.
She emphasized that the process is not a one-time event but an ongoing measure to keep public officials in check. “It helps us ensure that we stay within our limits and do not misuse state funds. If you have assets before coming to office, no one can accuse you of acquiring everything while in office.”
Naa Momo also called for improvements to the system, suggesting that future declarations should focus more on actual holdings, including bank statements, rather than speculative projections. She acknowledged the process can be tedious but stressed its importance.
“If you refuse to comply, it could have warranted outright dismissal. Disobeying such a directive amounts to disrespect. You can’t be part of a team and not follow leadership,” she stated.
She noted that although the form requires detailed information, it is something that can be completed within a few days with proper effort.
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