Former Auditor General Daniel Domelevo has urged President John Mahama to ensure that all appointees declare their assets before being sworn into office. Domelevo commended the President for directing six new ministers to declare their assets during a swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday at the Jubilee House, but emphasized that this requirement should be fulfilled before they assume office.

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"If I were the president…I would have told them, after going through vetting and all of that, go and declare your assets and liabilities before I swear you in," Domelevo stated in an interview on JoyFM on Thursday. He argued that this approach would demonstrate a stronger commitment to good governance and set a higher standard for public officials.Domelevo also stressed the need for robust enforcement of asset declaration laws in Ghana.

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He called on institutions like the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to ensure compliance and hold public officials accountable. Proactive enforcement, Domelevo believes, would deter corruption and enhance confidence in the governance system.To solidify this practice, Domelevo urged President Mahama to institutionalize a policy requiring pre-swearing-in asset declarations for future appointments.

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"This simple yet powerful measure can serve as a cornerstone in Ghana's fight against corruption and set the tone for a more accountable government."Asked how practical the expectation was of the nominees to comply with the requirement given the apparent short notice between their nomination and when they took office, Domelevo said it is requires less than hour for such an activity to be done, adding that it is better to uphold the law.

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“Well, practicality is one thing, the requirement of the law is another. But let me tell you, I don't know, unless you are so much a multimillion billionaire, declaring your asset, that form doesn't take more than an hour to fill. I have declared my asset twice.

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So you mean you are going to be as a minister, (and you are so busy) such that you cannot spare an hour or two to fill that form? That constitutional requirement?”“The question is, what is enough time? And the Constitution says before you take office, so you hold on and declare before you take office.

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Are you saying to me that if they give you an offer, that we will give you US$1 million, or GH¢1 million, if you are able to declare your assets and liabilities before the close of today you won't be able to do that?”Ghana’s constitution in Article 286 (1) requires a good number of public office holders to submit to the Auditor-General “a written declaration of all property or assets owned by, or liabilities owed by, him whether

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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(c) at the end of his term of office.”

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