{"id":22736,"date":"2022-05-31T17:32:39","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T17:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/?p=22736"},"modified":"2026-07-05T15:39:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T15:39:42","slug":"akufo-addos-19-ministers-who-never-declared-their-assets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/2022\/05\/31\/akufo-addos-19-ministers-who-never-declared-their-assets\/","title":{"rendered":"Akufo-Addo\u2019s 19 ministers who never declared their assets"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the peak of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo\u2019s first term, he had sworn in more than 126 ministers and deputy ministers. Some of them resigned and were replaced.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They took the sacred Oath of Ministers, to \u201cuphold, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, five years later,\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>\u00a0has found that at least 19 of them reneged on one of their first and basic obligations to the constitution \u2014 the declaration of their assets and liabilities.<\/p>\n

President Akufo-Addo\u00a0has complied fully with the asset declaration law since coming into office as president in January 2017. He has declared his assets three times since assuming office.<\/p>\n

Records available to\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>\u00a0indicate that the President declared his assets on January 24, 2017, February 17, 2021, and May 7, 2021.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

His ministers and deputy ministers who served in his first term and are serving in his second term are supposed to also have declared their assets and liabilities three times by now.<\/p>\n

On July 18, 2017, President Akufo-Addo said that all his appointees had declared their assets.<\/p>\n

Information available to\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>, however, reveals that at least 19 of the ministers and deputy ministers have not declared, not even once since 2017.<\/p>\n

What does the Asset Declaration law say?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

By law, ministers are to declare their assets within six months in office and latest six months after the end of a government\u2019s first term.<\/p>\n

Article 268 (1) of the 1992 Constitution states that \u201ca person who holds a public office mentioned in clause (5) of this Article shall submit to the Auditor-General a written declaration of all property or assets owned by, or liabilities owed by, him whether directly or indirectly (a) within three months after the coming into force of this Constitution or before taking office, as the case may be, (b) at the end of every four years; and (b) at the end of his term of office.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Constitution requires the declaration to be done before the public officer takes office. However, Section 1(4)(c) of the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act directs public office holders to meet this requirement not later than six months after taking office, at the end of every four years and not later than six months at the end of his or her term.<\/p>\n

The law requires that the President, Vice-President, the Speaker, Deputy Speakers of Parliament, ministers and deputy ministers of state, ambassadors, the Chief Justice and managers of public institutions in which the state has interest submit to the Auditor-General written declarations of all property or assets owned by, or liabilities owed by them, whether directly or indirectly.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

They are required to declare their assets relating to:<\/p>\n

(a)lands, houses and buildings;
\n(b) farms;
\n(c) concessions;
\n(d) trust or family property in respect of which the officer has beneficial interest;
\n(e) vehicles, plant and machinery, fishing boats, trawlers, generating plants;
\n(f) business interests;
\n(g) securities and bank balances;
\n(h) bonds and treasury bills;
\n(i) jewellery of the value of \u00a25 million [now \u00a2500] or above; objects of art of the value of \u00a25 million or above;
\n(j) life and other insurance policies;
\n(k) such other properties as are specified on the declaration form.<\/p>\n

On March 4, 2022,\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>\u00a0wrote to the Audit Service, under the Right to Information law, requesting information on public office holders who had declared their assets from January 2013 up to that date.<\/p>\n

The Audit Service responded with the data on May 17, 2022. Combing through the two booklets of almost 350 pages,\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>\u00a0did not find the names of 19 ministers and deputy ministers who have served in the Akufo-Addo administration since 2017.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Who are the defaulting appointees?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prof Kwesi Yankah:<\/strong>\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>\u00a0could not find the name of the Minister of State in Charge of Tertiary Education, who served in the Akufo-Addo administration from 2017 to 2020. An academic don, Prof. Yankah contested the 2020 parliamentary election in the Agona East Constituency on the ticket of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) but lost. He was in office from April 4, 2017, to January 7, 2021.<\/p>\n

\"Prof
Prof Kwesi Yankah<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rockson Bukari:<\/strong>\u00a0Mr. Bukari resigned in 2019 over allegations of attempted bribery of a journalist to kill a story. He did not declare his assets. He served from February 20, 2017, to April 29, 2019.<\/p>\n

\"Akufo-Addo\u2019s
Rockson Bukari<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tangoba Abayege<\/strong>: She succeeded Rockson Bukari as the Upper East Regional Minister after Mr. Bukari was moved to the presidency as minister of state in 2018. Like her predecessor, Tangoba Abayege did not declare her assets. Tangoba Abayage, who lost the Navrongo Central parliamentary polls in 2020 was also missing from the list. Before becoming regional minister, she was Ghana\u2019s ambassador to Italy. She was in office from November 2018 to January 7, 2021.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\"Akufo-Addo\u2019s
Tangoba Abayege<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Salifu Adam Braimah<\/strong>: He was the Savannah Regional Minister, who contested but lost the Salaga South parliamentary seat. He did not disclose his assets. He was in office from March 27, 2019, to January 7, 2021.<\/p>\n

\"Savannah
Salifu Adam Braimah<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson:<\/strong>\u00a0When the Bono Regional Minister-designate came to the floor of parliament for approval in April 2019, it met stiff opposition from the minority National Democratic Congress (NDC).<\/p>\n

The NDC lawmakers alleged at the Appointments Committee of Parliament that Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson, who had been a former Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, committed perjury in the declaration of assets and refund of money to the state as demanded in the Auditor General\u2019s report.<\/p>\n

There were also unanswered questions regarding the redistribution of a vested land. But the report of the Appointments Committee of Parliament, which recommended Ms Kumi-Richardson\u2019s approval by majority decision, cleared her of all the allegations by the Auditor General.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

After secret voting, the minority had their say but the majority had their way.<\/p>\n

Despite this, Ms. Kumi Richardson did not declare her asset when Parliament approved her to become a regional minister. She served from March 27, 2021, to January 7, 2021.<\/p>\n

\"Work<\/figure>\n

Also, on the list of the ministers and deputy ministers who failed to declare their assets are the following and the portfolios they served:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Sulemana Alhassan\u2013Upper West Regional Minister (March 27, 2021, to January 7, 2021)<\/li>\n
  • Carlos Ahenkorah\u2013Deputy Minister, Trade and Industry\u00a0 (April 11, 2017, to July 3, 2020)<\/li>\n
  • William Owuraku Aidoo\u2013Deputy Minister, Energy (April 11, 2017, to January 7, 2021.) He was reappointed when President Akufo-Addo won a second term.<\/li>\n
  • Vincent Sowah Odotei\u2013Deputy Minister, Communications (April 2017 to April 2020).<\/li>\n
  • Bernard Oko Boye\u2013Deputy Health Minister (April 20, 2020, to January 7, 2021).<\/li>\n
  • Anthony N-Yoh Puowele Karbo\u2013Deputy Minister, Roads & Highways\u00a0 (April 11, 2017, to January 7, 2021)<\/li>\n
  • Francis Kingsley Ato Cudjoe\u2013Deputy Minister, Fisheries & Aquaculture (April 11, 2017, to January 7, 2021)<\/li>\n
  • Siaka Stevens\u2013Deputy Regional Minister, Bono\u00a0 (March 27, 2019, to January 2021)<\/li>\n
  • Samuel Yeyu Tika\u2013Deputy Regional Minister, Savannah ( March 27, 2019, to January 2021)<\/li>\n
  • Tahiru Tia Ahmed\u2013Deputy Regional Minister, North East \u2013 (March 27, 2019, to January 7, 2021)<\/li>\n
  • Johnson Avuletey\u2013Deputy Regional Minister, Volta Region \u2013 (March 27, 2019, to January 2021)<\/li>\n
  • Thomas Adjei Baffour\u2013Deputy Regional Minister, Central \u2013 March 3, 2017, to January 7, 2021<\/li>\n
  • Joseph Tetteh\u2013Deputy Regional Minister, Eastern\u00a0 (March 3, 2017, to August 2018)<\/li>\n
  • Elizabeth Kwatsoo Tetteh Sackey\u2013Deputy Regional Minister, Greater Accra (March 3, 2017, to January 7, 2021).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Two out of the 19 defaulters, Carlos Ahenkora and William Owuraku Aidoo, are still lawmakers in the current Parliament. But Vincent Sowah Odotei, Bernard Oko Boye, Anthony Karbo, Francis Kingsley Ato Cudjoe, Siaka Steven and Joseph Tetteh lost their seats in the 2020 election.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n

    Four others who were deputy regional ministers in Akufo-Addo\u2019s first term have been offered new jobs in the President\u2019s second term.<\/p>\n

    They are William Owuraku Aidoo,\u00a0 Bernard Oko Boye, Elizabeth Kwatsoo Tetteh Sackey and Samuel Yeyu Tika. They are expected to declare their assets in their current positions but they haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n

    The MPs in the list also swore the oath of lawmakers to\u00a0\u201cuphold, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.\u201d<\/p>\n

    But they desecrated the oath.<\/p>\n

    Responses to\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Asset declaration is seen as crucial in fighting corruption by helping to track illicit wealth public office holders acquire while in office.<\/p>\n

    Per the law, any assets acquired by a public officer holder after the initial declaration, which does not come from \u201csources reasonably attributed to income, gift, loan, inheritance or any other reasonable source would be classified\u201d as illegal.<\/p>\n

    The Fourth Estate<\/em>\u00a0reached out to the Ministers whose names were not found in the asset declaration list for comments. Here are those we contacted and their responses.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Thomas Adjei Baffoe \u2013 Deputy Regional Minister, Central<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      The Audit Service stated that no public office holder declared their assets in the Central Region from 2017 to 2019.<\/p>\n

      But Thomas Adjei Baffoe, who served as deputy Central Regional Minister from March 2017 to January 7, 2021, insisted, he did.<\/p>\n

      \u201cI declared my assets. I deposited them at the regional office of the Audit Service. It was even one of the employees of the Local Government who does audits, who did it for me. His name is Ben Issah,\u201d he told\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>.<\/p>\n

      Asked for the evidence of his declaration, he said he was not sure he took it from the said officer but said he would check and get back to this reporter because he was not in Cape Coast.<\/p>\n

      \"DRM
      Thomas Adjei Baffoe \u2013 Deputy Regional Minister, Central<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
        \n
      • Prof Kwesi Yankah \u2013 Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        All attempts to reach him failed. Calls, texts and WhatsApp messages were not responded to.<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Carlos Ahenkora \u2013 MP\u00a0for\u00a0Tema West & former Deputy Minister of Trade<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          He resigned in July 2020 after public pressure mounted on the President to sack him for breaching the COVID-19 restrictions. He had tested positive for the virus and went to campaign instead of self-isolating.<\/p>\n

          Mr. Ahenkora told\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>\u00a0he fulfilled his asset declaration obligation and that he submitted his forms to the Tema office of the Audit Service.<\/p>\n

          \u201cIt is not true. I have declared my assets,\u201d he said, but added, \u201cI don\u2019t know if I can give you the date, but I did declare my asset. Check with the Audit Service.\u201d<\/p>\n

          \u201cThe Audit Service has given us the document [list of those who declared their assets] we needed, from 2013 to 2021,\u201d this reporter pointed out to him.<\/p>\n

          \u201cMy brother, I am telling you that I have declared my assets and I am asking you to check well before you make pronouncements, because I know I declared my asset in 2017,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

          \u201cI didn\u2019t finish the term because I resigned along the line. I am 120% sure that I declared my asset,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

          \u201cSo, when you exited, too, you declared?\u201d<\/p>\n

          \u201cI resigned so I did not declare. My term was terminated. I did not finish.\u201d<\/p>\n

          \u201cBut, sir, when you exit, you still have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

          \u201cI don\u2019t have that information. I didn\u2019t have that advice.\u201d<\/p>\n

          \"Akufo-Addo\u2019s
          Carlos Ahenkora \u2013 MP\u00a0for\u00a0Tema West & former Deputy Minister of Trade<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
            \n
          • William Owuraku Aidoo \u2013 Deputy Minister of Energy (MP, Afigya Kwabre South)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            He said he declared his assets in the Ashanti Regional office of the Audit Service in Kumasi.<\/p>\n

            \u201cI did. I did it in Kumasi after the elections,\u201d he said but couldn\u2019t remember the exact date.<\/p>\n

            When\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>\u00a0asked if he declared in 2021, after he exited as a deputy minister, his tone turned condescending.<\/p>\n

            \u201cBut in what capacity are you calling me. You are a journalist. You cannot call and interrogate me like this.<\/p>\n

            \u201cSir, I am not interrogating you. I\u2019m just giving you a fair\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

            \u201cWhy don\u2019t you write to me,\u201d he snapped<\/p>\n

            \u201cI should write to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

            \u201cYes, if you think there is something I have not done right, write to me. Today is Sunday, you don\u2019t have the temerity to call me that I haven\u2019t declared my asset (sic). Massa, don\u2019t call me again.\u201d<\/p>\n

            \"William
            William Owuraku Aidoo \u2013 Deputy Minister of Energy (MP, Afigya Kwabre South)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
              \n
            • Tangoba Abayege\u2013Upper East Regional Minister (former Ambassador to Italy)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              She said she declared her assets to Parliament prior to her vetting because she thought that was expected of her.<\/p>\n

              \u201cI didn\u2019t know it was supposed to be the Audit Service. It was Parliament that vetted me. That is where I submitted every document, including my tax clearance certificate.\u201d<\/p>\n

              She, however, urged the Audit Service to make the declaration easy because some of the questions were cumbersome and unreasonable, including the value of family land, which she said she didn\u2019t buy.<\/p>\n

              \"Akufo-Addo\u2019s
              Tangoba Abayege\u2013Upper East Regional Minister (former Ambassador to Italy)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

              Anthony Karbo \u2013 Deputy Roads & Highway Minister (former MP, Lawra)<\/strong><\/p>\n

              In a response to a WhatsApp message, he said, \u201cIt was done as far back as 2017 and submitted to Audit Service. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

              A follow-up question on whether he declared in Accra or Wa and if he also declared again when he exited and any evidence was not responded to.<\/p>\n

              \"Akufo-Addo\u2019s
              Anthony Karbo \u2013 Deputy Roads & Highway Minister (former MP, Lawra)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
                \n
              • Joseph Tetteh \u2013 Deputy Eastern Regional Minister & Former MP, Upper Manya Krobo<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                He said prior to the 2016 elections, he filed the document at the Audit Service Head Office in Accra as part of the election requirement.<\/p>\n

                \u201cWe did it before we entered Parliament,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

                \u201cSo, you did it as an aspirant?\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cYes, by then.\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cSo, when you became an MP, you did not?\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cNo, I didn\u2019t. I also became a minister. I didn\u2019t until I left parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cWhen you read Article 286 and Act 550, it says when you become an MP you have to declare your assets and when you become minister, you have to.<\/p>\n

                \u201cAh! That is what I didn\u2019t do. I didn\u2019t do anything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cBut is there any reason why you didn\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cI thought I did it before entering Parliament. Maybe parliament would take that one. I was not asked to do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cThere was no orientation to do it again?\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cI can\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cThe president said at a point that you all had declared your assets.\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cI can\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cHe said it on July 18, 2017, that all his appointees had declared their assets. At that time, I\u2019m sure you were a deputy minister.\u201d<\/p>\n

                \u201cJuly 18, yes, yes, I was a deputy minister.\u201d<\/p>\n

                Joseph Tetteh said he would check from his personal assistant if he did, but he couldn\u2019t remember.<\/p>\n

                \"I
                Joseph Tetteh \u2013 Deputy Eastern Regional Minister & Former MP, Upper Manya Krobo<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
                  \n
                • Johnson Avuletey \u2013 Deputy Volta Regional Minister<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  He said when he was in office, he didn\u2019t add any property to what he had, so he didn\u2019t know what to declare.<\/p>\n

                  \u201cI was in my own house before I was appointed. Is it necessary for me to declare that one too?\u201d he asked, suggesting it was only properties gotten from the public office that had to be declared.\u201d<\/p>\n

                  \u201cWhen you come to the office, you have to declare within six months and when you exit, too, within six months, you have to declare,\u201d\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>\u00a0reminded him.<\/p>\n

                  \u201cOk, ok,\u201d he said, like someone received a new insight.<\/p>\n

                  \u201cWas there no orientation on this?\u201d<\/p>\n

                  \u201cWe didn\u2019t have any orientation about that. I was not given any form to declare my assets. When I was an assemblyman, I declared assets. When I became a deputy minister for just two years, there was nothing like that,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

                  Rockson Bukari \u2013 Upper East Regional Minister<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  Mr Bukari told\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>\u00a0his lawyer did it on his behalf in Bolgatanga.<\/p>\n

                  He, however, said he couldn\u2019t remember where he had put the receipt.<\/p>\n

                  Asked whether he did when he left office, he said he couldn\u2019t remember.<\/p>\n

                  But he said he would get in touch with his lawyer for clarity.<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Evelyn Ama Kumi Richardson \u2013 Bono Regional Minister<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    She insisted she declared her assets.<\/p>\n

                    \u201cPlease, I declared,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

                    \u201cDo you have records of it?<\/p>\n

                    \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

                    \u201cI would be very grateful if you could provide the evidence. You know when you file it, they give you a receipt.\u201d<\/p>\n

                    \u201cWell, I\u2019ll see if I can submit the receipt.\u201d<\/p>\n

                    \u201cI would be grateful if you do because we want to get this clarity.\u201d<\/p>\n

                    \u201cI did. Even Parliament was demanding a copy. So, I sent it to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

                    \u201cWhen you were leaving, too, you declared?<\/p>\n

                    \u201cWhen I was leaving, I think I picked a form. But I\u2019m not too sure\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • Vincent Sowah Odotei- Deputy Minister, Communication (former MP, La-Dadekotopon MP)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      He was relieved of his job in April 2020. \u00a0Calls, text and WhatsApp messages to him were not responded to.<\/p>\n

                      \"Akufo-Addo\u2019s
                      Vincent Sowah Odotei- Deputy Minister, Communication (former MP, La-Dadekotopon MP)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

                      Francis Kingsley Ato Cudjoe \u2013 Deputy Minister, Fisheries & Aquaculture (former MP, Ekumfi)<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      He said he completed his application with his personal assistant and handed it over to him for submission. He, however, admitted not declaring his asset when he left office.<\/p>\n

                      \"Akufo-Addo\u2019s
                      Francis Kingsley Ato Cudjoe<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
                        \n
                      • Samuel Yeyu Tika \u2013 Deputy Regional Minister, Savannah (now Deputy Chief Executive, Minerals Commission)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        He told\u00a0The Fourth Estate<\/em>\u00a0he declared his assets in the Tamale office of the Audit Service.<\/p>\n

                        He, however, said he couldn\u2019t remember the exact dates he filed the document.<\/p>\n

                        He was also not sure if he filed it when he contested for parliament or afterward but was confident that he did.<\/p>\n

                        He said he would reach out to his accountant for the details. He later called to say the accountant was not sure.<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • Siaka Stevens, Deputy Bono Regional Minister\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          He said before he became a deputy minister, he had declared his asset as a Member of Parliament.<\/p>\n

                          \u201cI spent two years in office as a Deputy Minister. I didn\u2019t add anything to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

                          \u201cWhen you left office, did you declare?\u201d<\/p>\n

                          \u201cIf you exit? I\u2019ve not seen that portion of the law that says so.\u201d<\/p>\n

                          \u201cSo, when you enter office, you declare within six months and when you exit too, you have six months to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

                          \u201cI\u2019m not privy to that law.\u201d<\/p>\n

                          \u201cYou can check Article 286 and Act 550\u201d<\/p>\n

                          \u201cI\u2019ll check.\u201d<\/p>\n

                          \u201cBut where did you file it?\u201d<\/p>\n

                          \u201cI filed it in Accra. The day I went to file, I even met Akua Donkor. I went right after her.\u201d<\/p>\n

                          Mr Stevens became a deputy minister in March 2019.<\/p>\n

                          He said he didn\u2019t declare his asset as a deputy regional minister.<\/p>\n

                          \u201cWe were there for only two years.\u201d<\/p>\n

                          \u201cSir, the law doesn\u2019t say if you\u2019re there for two years you shouldn\u2019t declare your assets. If you even spent six months, you have to. A lot can happen in six months.<\/p>\n

                          With that, he laughed \u2026<\/p>\n

                          \u201cAs for that, I didn\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

                          \"Akufo-Addo\u2019s
                          Siaka Stevens, Deputy Bono Regional Minister\u00a0<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
                            \n
                          • Sulemana Alhassan \u2013 Upper West Regional Minister<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            When he was asked about his asset declaration profile, he laughed out loud and said, \u201cI\u2019m no more even in the system.\u201d<\/p>\n

                            According to him, he had started the process with the regional coordinating director at the time, but could not remember if the document went to the Audit Service.<\/p>\n

                              \n
                            • Tahiru Tia Ahmed\u2013 Deputy Regional\u00a0<\/strong>Minister, North East<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              He couldn\u2019t be reached for comment.<\/p>\n

                              \"Akufo-Addo\u2019s
                              Tahiru Tia Ahmed\u2013 Deputy Regional\u00a0Minister, North East<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
                                \n
                              • Elizabeth Kwatsoo Tetteh Sackey \u2013 Deputy Regional Minister, Greater Accra (now Metropolitan Chief Executive, Accra Metropolis)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                She didn\u2019t respond to calls, text and WhatsApp messages.<\/p>\n

                                \"Akufo-Addo\u2019s
                                Elizabeth Kwatsoo Tetteh Sackey \u2013 Metropolitan Chief Executive, Accra Metropolis<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
                                  \n
                                • Bernard Oko Boye \u2014 Deputy Health Minister (now CEO, National Health Insurance Authority)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  He didn\u2019t respond to calls, text and WhatsApp messages.<\/p>\n

                                  \"Akufo-Addo\u2019s
                                  Bernard Oko Boye \u2014 Deputy Health Minister (now CEO, National Health Insurance Authority)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

                                  Sack them<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                  Reacting to\u00a0The Fourth Estate\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0findings, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, Beauty Emefa Narteh, expressed disappointment at the revelations. She wants the President to be more than just a role model in asset declaration.<\/p>\n

                                  \u201cYou can\u2019t appoint people and then they do the opposite of what you do. What measures did the President put in place to even ensure that his appointees do what is required in terms of asset declaration?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

                                  She continued, \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t take the President too much to determine if his appointees have declared their assets or not. As an appointing authority, he could have added that they show evidence of declaration. He could have easily confirmed it. This situation is a wake-up call to the President to ensure that his appointees do not go contrary to what he is promoting.<\/p>\n

                                  \u201cBased on this information, those who are currently in government, I think the President should do the needful by sacking them for embarrassing him in such a manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

                                  She said the President should be worried about the non-compliance because the appointees may be breaking other laws on his blind side.<\/p>\n

                                  CHRAJ investigations\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                  She also urged the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to immediately investigate such appointees.<\/p>\n

                                  In February this year, CHRAJ banned the former board chairman of the Public Procurement Authority, Prof. Douglas Boateng, from holding public office for the next two years after CHRAJ found out in the Contracts for Sale investigations that he had failed to declare his assets.<\/p>\n

                                  \u00a0Asset declaration law is a weak law<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                  Critics of Ghana\u2019s asset declaration laws say it is opaque because what is declared cannot be verified or published by the Auditor-General.<\/p>\n

                                  A former Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo, agrees. \u201cWhat is missing in Ghana\u2019s situation is verifying the asset to ensure that it\u2019s in conformity with what has been declared.\u201d<\/p>\n

                                  Mr Domelevo recommends a lifestyle audit for public office holders to match their income with their possessions, he told Joy News.<\/p>\n

                                  \u201cThe current asset declaration is a substandard measure of transparency and accountability. If we can\u2019t verify what you declared, where lies the transparency and accountability. It\u2019s unfortunate,\u201d Beauty Emefa Narteh agrees.<\/p>\n

                                  Anti-corruption campaigners believe the repealed Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) Law 280 in 1998 which regulated asset declaration during Rawlings\u2019 military and civil administration was much more transparent.<\/p>\n

                                  Under that law, public officials had a thirty days grace period to declare their assets and it had to be done every two years. The Auditor-General also had 14 days to publish all assets declared by public office holders.<\/p>\n

                                  However, even that law had its critics who claimed it was nothing more than a charade.<\/p>\n

                                  For instance, the\u00a0Ghanaian Chronicle<\/em>\u00a0reported on October 26, 1992, that the bank balances declared by some senior members of the PNDC were less than one month\u2019s pension of a retired civil servant.<\/p>\n

                                  But, unlike the current laws, it had a relatively stiffer punishment for those who broke it.<\/p>\n

                                  Section 4 of that decree stated that persons who contravened the law were \u201cliable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred penalty units or to imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both the fine and the imprisonment.\u201d<\/p>\n

                                  With the current system, at worse, a person guilty of failing to declare his or her assets can only be banned from holding public office for 10 years, according to provisions of Act 550.<\/p>\n

                                  The law, however, gives CHRAJ\u00a0 a lot of discretion to decide the appropriate sanction. It is probably the reason the former Board Chairman of the Public Procurement Authority, Prof Douglas Boateng, was in February this year banned from holding public office for two years.<\/p>\n

                                  That discretion, Beauty Emefa Narteh said, must be taken away and specific punitive measures put in place to deal with any kleptomaniacs in public office.
                                  \nsource:thefourthestategh<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                  At the peak of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo\u2019s first term, he had sworn in more than 126 ministers and deputy ministers. Some of them resigned and were replaced. They took the sacred Oath of Ministers, to \u201cuphold, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.\u201d But, five years later,\u00a0The Fourth Estate\u00a0has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":22739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_post_source_name":"","_post_source_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[43,1],"tags":[9609,4553,13052,2309,11264,4231,7273,1298,7455,11110,6863,11554,140,7358,5777,4902,8433,10076,10387,6519,7960,5593,10787,7489,2437,8592,13108,7703,6693,9560,1384,5222,5200,7396,913,7916,218,423,10947,911,5494,5455,9127,192,4521,6980,2264,9997,2416,12634,10840,10321,1392,7407,6030,5205,10419,7654,4331,10560,8029,10342,12329,10776,5423,9968,7225,10634,11743,8126,4317,5572,4998,6864,6831,7806,5612,278,2402,2262,12187,281,7964,11973,1198,6558,10302,12251,7574,3805,7669,6544,389,4197,11093,8522,9265,11732,9277,2126,7945,10023,5238,1502,7771,9195,12740,12524,10329,6258,12954,10639,6348,8385,11634,1808,1101,5165,594],"class_list":["post-22736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","category-news","tag-1992-constitution","tag-accra","tag-akufo","tag-akufo-addo-npp-government","tag-allegations","tag-ama","tag-anthony","tag-appointees","tag-ashanti","tag-asset","tag-asset-declaration","tag-audit","tag-auditor-general","tag-bank","tag-banned","tag-bolgatanga","tag-bono","tag-bribery","tag-campaign","tag-cape-coast","tag-case","tag-central-region","tag-certificate","tag-chairman","tag-chief-justice","tag-chraj","tag-civil-servant","tag-classified","tag-congress","tag-conviction","tag-corruption","tag-covid","tag-covid-19","tag-data","tag-democratic","tag-deputy-minister","tag-domelevo","tag-education","tag-ekumfi","tag-election","tag-energy","tag-family","tag-february","tag-ghana","tag-ghanaian","tag-gift","tag-government","tag-guilty","tag-h","tag-health","tag-human-rights","tag-illegal","tag-italy","tag-jobs","tag-journalist","tag-july","tag-justice","tag-krobo","tag-kumasi","tag-la","tag-land","tag-law","tag-laws","tag-lawyer","tag-lies","tag-lifestyle-audit","tag-loan","tag-lost","tag-majority","tag-match","tag-metropolitan","tag-military","tag-minister-of-energy","tag-ministers","tag-missing","tag-model","tag-money","tag-mp","tag-mps","tag-municipal-chief-executive","tag-n","tag-ndc","tag-north","tag-one","tag-parliament","tag-pension","tag-plant","tag-pndc","tag-presidency","tag-president","tag-president-nana-addo-dankwa-akufo-addo","tag-property","tag-public-procurement-authority","tag-rawlings","tag-reminded","tag-sack","tag-sanction","tag-sic","tag-speaker","tag-stevens","tag-sunyani","tag-take-that","tag-tamale","tag-tax","tag-tax-clearance","tag-tema","tag-tetteh","tag-ticket","tag-trade","tag-transparency","tag-upper-east","tag-upper-west","tag-us","tag-verified","tag-volta","tag-volta-region","tag-wa","tag-whatsapp","tag-who"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22736"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50723,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22736\/revisions\/50723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}