CDD-Ghana has praised President Mahama for enforcing asset declaration
The Programmes Officer at the Center for Democratic Development-Ghana (CDD-Ghana), Vera Abena Addo, has lauded President John Dramani Mahama for taking firm action against public officials who failed to comply with asset declaration laws.
She described the move as a significant step toward promoting accountability and strengthening good governance.
According to the CDD-Ghana official, asset declaration is not a mere bureaucratic formality, but a preventive measure intended to reduce corruption and promote transparency.
“Public service comes with certain compromises, and those who accept such roles must be willing to subject themselves to public scrutiny,” she indicated.
She emphasised the importance of civic education in fostering a culture of compliance.
“Educating citizens, especially in schools and communities about the responsibilities of public officials can help deepen understanding of the need for asset declarations. Anyone who is unwilling to make such disclosures should refrain from accepting public office,” she added.
According to myjoyonline.com, the programmes officer also commended the media for its consistent reporting on non-compliance among public officials.
However, she lamented the lack of action that follows those revelations, making the president’s recent enforcement measures even more significant.
Despite the praise, she called for greater transparency regarding the sanctions.
She urged the presidency to provide evidence that salaries were deducted from non-compliant officials and donated to the appropriate fund, as claimed.
In her view, such transparency is necessary to rebuild public trust in state institutions.
She further called on the Auditor-General to complement the president’s efforts by issuing regular updates on compliance.
These updates should not be limited to political appointees but should cover all public servants required by law to declare their assets, especially those whose income is equivalent to that of a director or higher, she said.
Vera also supported the idea of automatic dismissal for officials who fail to comply with asset declaration requirements in the future.
She argued that enforcing such penalties would set the right tone and demonstrate that the state is serious about combating corruption.
She urged that this should not be treated as a one-time event but as the beginning of a consistent and transparent governance process.
MRA/AE
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