On Thursday, October 12, it was reported that former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo opposed the publication of official declarations of assets by public office holders in newspapers.
He believes this practice is expensive and wasteful, considering the number of officers expected to declare their assets. According to Domelevo, publishing the list in newspapers would be a costly and unproductive exercise due to its length.
During his time in office, the speaker mentioned that more than 50,000 officers were supposed to declare their assets. He suspected that the number might have increased since then.
To make the process more convenient and cost-effective, he proposed digitizing the process by publishing the list of officers who have declared their assets on a website instead of in a newspaper. While the law only requires that the list be published, it is not clear on the medium to be used.
Therefore, the speaker suggested publishing the list on the website of the Auditor-General or any other website. He also proposed issuing a notice to the public or a press release to announce its publication.
The National Dialogue was held on the theme: ‘Fighting Public Sector Corruption in Ghana: Making A Case for an Effective Asset Declaration Law’.
The Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, who was also at the event, called for a review of the current asset declaration law, passed in 1998.
The Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification), Act 550, replaced the PNDC Law 280.
He conceded that Act 550 contains some “shortfalls” and “challenges”.
But he was concerned the review would have to go back to the same Parliament, whose members are part of those to declare assets, for passage.
“That’s the reason why we need to review that Act and when we review, it will go back to them and remember they are also part of the people who are supposed to declare their assets.”
SOURCE: 3news
