Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has urged Senior Presidential Advisor Yaw Osafo-Maafo to formally present his concerns about the asset declaration law for public officials to President Akufo-Addo.
Osafo-Maafo recently stated that the current asset declaration law lacks transparency and should be reviewed during a forum on open government partnerships and construction sector transparency in Accra.
Kpebu emphasized the importance of Osafo-Maafo submitting a memo or letter to the president to highlight the flaws he has identified in the current asset declaration law.
He also suggested that Osafo-Maafo’s status as a statesman would garner more support if he made a formal request for the law to be reviewed.
Furthermore, Kpebu dismissed Osafo-Maafo’s claim that some chiefs are hesitant to declare their assets due to fear of attacks.
He pointed out that there have been no recorded cases of attacks on chiefs whose assets were made public since the overthrow of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Kpebu also called on the President to allow for a revision of the Code of Conduct for Public Officials bill for broader consultation, stressing the importance of publishing all assets to combat corruption effectively.
The asset declaration law in Ghana has been in place since the 1970s, with Article 286(1) of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550) regulating asset declaration.
The process involves public officials declaring their assets, income, and liabilities upon assuming office and every four years thereafter.
By formalizing his concerns and advocating for transparency, Osafo-Maafo and other stakeholders can work towards strengthening the asset declaration regime for the betterment of Ghana’s governance and anti-corruption efforts.
