Explaining this on Point Blank on Eyewitness News, Mr. Domelovo made reference to Article 286 of the constitution, which defines who public officers are, and why they must declare their assets.

These public officers ranged from the President of the Republic to Ministers of State to Heads of Ministry or government department or equivalent office in the Civil Service.

Mr. Domelovo further noted that Act 550, which is the public office holders (declaration of assets and disqualification) Act, added to this list by defining public office to include police, prison officers, persons in government-owned companies and “any other public officer whose salary is equal to that of a director in the civil service or above.”

“So the GHc 3,727 [and above] I am talking about, I have picked the salary of the director in the Civil Service. That is the minimum salary of a director in the civil service,” he concluded.

Asset declaration not only for politicians

Mr. Domelovo stressed that education would be important to make people aware of the fact that declaration of assets was not meant for only politicians vying for office.

“I’m sure a lot of civil servants, education service staff and etc, when they hear about asset declaration, they all think it is politicians’ business… I need to draw Ghanaians and fellow public servants’ attention that once your salary is equal to GHc3.727, you fall within the net and you are supposed to declare your assets.”

Limitations of Auditor General

The Auditor-General cannot sanction any public officer for failing to declare their assets.

The Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), or the Chief Justice, are the only entities that can take action against persons who fail to declare their assets upon a report from the Auditor General.

CHRAJ or the Chief Justice may take any action deemed appropriate following an investigation or admission of guilt.

It should also be noted that the Act 550, which requires the mandated public officer to submit a sealed envelope to the Auditor-General, also states that the Auditor-General has no right to open and check or verify the contents of the asset declaration form.

The constitution stipulates that only CHRAJ may open it up when there is a controversy in line with due process.

Properties to be declared

• Lands, houses and buildings;
• Farms;
• Concessions;
• Trust or family property in respect of which the officer has beneficial interest;
• Vehicles, plant and machinery, fishing boats, trawlers, generating plants; business interests;
• Securities and bank balances;
• Bonds and treasury bills;
• Jewellery of the value of ¢5 million or above; objects of art of the value of ¢5 million or
  above;
• Life and other insurance policies;
• Such other properties as are specified on the declaration for

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Public servants earning over GHc3,700 to declare assets appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, even though it is in the public interest for aspirants to declare their assets as a measure of accountability, it must not be a strict requirement. Some political parties notably the NPP, have said they will defy the asset declaration criteria saying it is unconstitutional.

Prof. Agyeman Duah told Citi News that “there are serious questions that need to be raised by this particular requirement by the Electoral Commission. Anyone who wants to run for a political office will not be a public officer till the person has won and is installed in public office. Therefore, to be asked to comply with that requirement in the constitution may be a little bit stretching of the constitutional requirement.”

He added that, although the directive will help put forward desirable presidential hopefuls, it must be applied without punitive intentions.

“If the idea is to find a way to make sure that those who want to be public figures are clean, we should find the right way but we cannot hide behind what is certainly not legal to make it legal for them to comply, he added.”

‘Declare assets or lose your candidature’

Ahead of the deadline for the submission of nomination forms, on Friday 30th September, the Electoral Commission said cautioned presidential and parliamentary nominees they will not be eligible to contest the elections if they do not declare their assets with the Auditor General.

The EC in a statement said the “candidates are to take note of the requirement to declare their assets to the Auditor-General in order to meet the eligibility criteria.”

AssetS declaration illegal – NPP

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), kicked against the demand  by the EC, saying it is  unconstitutional.

The General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu on Eyewithness News, said although the NPP’s candidate will readily declare his assets, the law as it stands, only binds those already holding public office, and not those seeking to be office.

‘Dr. Nduom declares asset’

So far, only the Flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has come out publicly to confirm the declaration of his assets to the Auditor General.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Assets declaration for aspirants unnecessary – Political scientist appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.