In a significant move to promote transparency and accountability among public officials, President John Dramani Mahama publicly presented his completed asset declaration forms to the Auditor-General on Tuesday.
This act, in accordance with Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, highlights President Mahama’s commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring responsible governance.
In his remarks after presenting the forms to the Auditor General, President Mahama stressed the importance of transparency in the asset declaration process.
“Ghana’s Asset Declaration regime and its related activities have often been shrouded in secrecy,” he said, acknowledging the challenges in measuring compliance. He expressed a desire to “inject some openness and transparency into the process by publicising his declaration.”
The President stressed that combating corruption is not only about punishing wrongdoers but also about prevention.
“I have always maintained that while it is all well and good to punish corruption, a more effective way of addressing the canker is preventing it from occurring in the first place,” he remarked. He believes that if the asset declaration process is “properly curated and enforced,” it can serve as a sustainable tool to tackle corruption.
Highlighting the insidious nature of corruption, Mahama declared, “Corruption by nature is insidious and thrives under the cover of darkness. The more light that is shined on it, the more likely that it will be fought successfully.”
“I take the declaration of assets very seriously and expect full compliance from them,” he said.
The president highlighted the necessity of accountability not only for past government officials but also for those currently in power. “Charity, they say, begins at home,” he stated, reinforcing his belief that proactive measures must be taken to address corruption among present public officeholders.
