President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Auditor-General to ensure that former government appointees of the immediate past administration declare their assets in accordance with the law.

Speaking at a State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) meeting in Accra, President Mahama emphasized that the law mandates public officials to declare their assets twice—upon assuming office and upon leaving office.

However, he noted that many former appointees under ex-President Nana Akufo-Addo have failed to comply with this requirement.

President Mahama cited Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, which requires public officeholders to submit their completed asset declaration forms to the Auditor-General.

He urged those who have not yet fulfilled this obligation to do so immediately, stressing that accountability must be upheld.

The Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550) specifies that individuals in key government positions must declare their assets. These include:

The President and Vice President Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Members of Parliament Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Heads of Government Institutions Chief Justice, Justices of the Superior Court, and Judicial Officers Governor and Deputy Governors of the Bank of Ghana Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and Heads of Chancery Security Service Officers, including Police, Military, and Prison Officers Officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority and Public Procurement Officers Heads of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and key financial officers in government institutions

President Mahama warned that the era of impunity, mediocrity, and financial mismanagement must end.

He reiterated that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) must be restructured to improve efficiency and profitability, stressing that business-as-usual practices would no longer be tolerated.

“We must restore public confidence in governance by ensuring full compliance with asset declaration laws.

Those who fail to adhere to these legal requirements will be held accountable,” the President declared.

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