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President John Dramani Mahama officially gave the Auditor-General his completed asset declaration papers on Tuesday, marking a major step toward encouraging accountability and transparency among public officials.
In compliance with Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, this legislation demonstrates President Mahama’s dedication to combating corruption and upholding responsible administration.
Following the presentation of the forms to the Auditor General, President Mahama emphasized the value of openness in the asset declaration procedure.
“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 emphasized the need for accountability on the part of both current and former government officials. He reaffirmed his conviction that aggressive steps must be made to combat corruption among current public officeholders by saying, “Charity, they say, begins at home.”
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
