Fighting corruption: Occupy Ghana demands accountability in assets declaration

Pressure group Occupy Ghana, says it is turning its focus on the assets declaration law, and wants proof that qualified staff of the Audit-Service who are tasked with ensuring compliance with the assets and liabilities declaration regime, are themselves in compliance.

“As a first step, we are interested in whether persons required to make the declaration are doing so. We particularly would want to find out whether officers of the Audit Service who are required by law to declare their assets and liabilities have done so”, a statement issued by the group explained.

Occupy Ghana said the combined effect of Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution (Sections 1 and 2 of, and items (x) and (y) of the First Schedule to the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets & Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550)) are that the Auditor-General and all persons working in the Audit Service of certain qualifications are required to file duly completed Declaration of Assets and Liability Forms.

They include accountants, internal auditors, procurement officers, and planning and budget officers in finance and procurement departments, as well as officers whose salaries are equivalent to or above the salary of a Director in the Civil Service.

“This provision is particularly important because the Constitution and Act 550 task your office with ensuring compliance with the assets and liabilities declaration regime. It is therefore important that you and officers of the Audit Service covered by the above provisions declare their assets and liabilities in accordance with the law as an example to all others. It is only when you have complied with the law that you can have the moral justification to insist that others do so”, the statement said.

Among other questions, Occupy Ghana is demanding to know the names of officers of the Audit Service qualified to comply with the assets declaration regime; their appointment dates to their offices and when they assumed duty; whether each person so covered or affected has filed a completed Declaration of Assets and Liability Form as well as reasons for failure, if any.