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President John Dramani Mahama has reminded his appointees – Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Deputy CEOs, of the need for them to comply with the Assets Declaration Law.
The Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550) mandates public officials to declare their assets and liabilities upon their assumption of office.
The law aims to prevent corruption, detect illicit enrichment, and address conflicts of interest by requiring public officials to disclose their assets and liabilities. The President made the appeal on Wednesday, when he swore-in 13 Deputy Ministers and one Minister of State at the Presidency in Accra.
President Mahama, who charged the inductees to formally declare their assets as quickly as possible, also reiterated that the amended law on assets declaration covered both CEOs and Deputies CEOs, who had been appointed in Government’s departments and agencies.
“So those who are rushing for position, you are covered by the assets declaration rule, and so they should declare their assets as quickly as possible,” the President said. “I have asked the Chief of Staff to write to all such persons to declare their assets promptly with the Auditor-General’s Office.”
President Mahama said Madam Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, the Minister of State in-charge of Public Sector Reform, would work under the Presidential Special Advisor on Governmental Affairs to achieve speedy and optimal reform in Ghana’s Public Services.
He said each of the inductees, who had been appointed as Deputy Ministers, much was expected from them and while their role as Deputy Ministers required professional subordination in supporting their substantive ministers, he would hold them to the same standards of accountability, diligence, hard work, and sacrifice for Ghana’s collective success.
“In view of this, the same cautions I give to Ministers against arrogance, against opulence, and neglect of duty apply to you as well,” President Mahama said. “You must also promptly fulfil your asset declaration requirements and submit same to the Auditor General.” He advised them to always ensure that any travel outside Ghana passed the essential travel test and received approval from the Office of the Chief of Staff.
“There are two clocks we hear. For those of us elected by the good people of Ghana to lead them, the clock we hear is the ticking of the first clock of the four-year time frame given to us by the people of Ghana,” the President said.
He added that the officers they would be working with in the public services had security of tenure, and that they hear a more relaxed clock, and that clock ticked towards their retirement age of 60 years; saying “they may therefore not be in as much a hurry as you”.
“You must therefore work to encourage and incentivise them to work at the pace of your four-year mandate that the people of Ghana have given to you. If you are able to do this, to let them see the urgency and the hurry in which this government is, we shall achieve success.”
Madam Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, the Minister of State in-charge of Public Sector Reforms, on behalf of the inductees, thanked the President for the honour done them. She noted that they would put in their best to make sure that the President achieves his agenda of resetting the nation.
Source: GNA
