Former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo has raised concerns over the GHC20,000 gift threshold set in the newly unveiled Code of Conduct for political appointees, describing it as excessive and calling for a review to strengthen accountability in public office.

Mr. Domelevo welcomed the Code as a step in the right direction, praising its clarity and emphasis on professionalism and ethics.

However, he singled out the provision on gift acceptance as problematic.

“It is a good start. I see a lot of clarity in defining the role of a minister. I am very happy to read about the receiving of gifts, except that the threshold, I think, is too high. GHC20,000 is just too high, and that is more than 1,000 dollars,” he said.

Drawing on his experience at the World Bank, Mr. Domelevo noted that international standards on gift acceptance are far more stringent. “At the World Bank, where I was, the threshold was 50 dollars.

If you receive a gift above the value of $50, you surrender it; you do not take it home.

But in this case, it is about 1,000 dollars, and 20,000 Ghana cedis to be specific. I think it is too high,” he argued.

His remarks come in the wake of the official launch of the new Code of Conduct by President John Dramani Mahama on May 5, aimed at promoting ethical leadership and civility in public service.

Under the Code, political appointees are allowed to accept gifts valued up to GHC20,000.

Any gift exceeding that amount must be declared to Cabinet and handed over to the state upon the appointee’s exit from office, unless the President authorises the individual to retain it.

While the Code has been broadly welcomed as a necessary reform, Domelevo’s critique has reignited debate on what constitutes appropriate limits in safeguarding integrity within public office.

He spoke in an interview with Citi FM