Mahama Orders Mandatory Asset Declaration by March 31, Threatens Dismissal for Non-Compliance
President John Dramani Mahama has set a March 31, 2025, deadline for all government appointees to declare their assets, warning that failure to comply will result in their removal from office.
Speaking at Jubilee House on February 18, 2025, after submitting his own asset declaration forms to the Auditor-General, Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“I have always maintained that while punishing corruption is necessary, preventing it is even more effective. The declaration of assets is an important tool in this fight, and I expect every appointee to comply,” he emphasized.
The President noted that some public officials may be unaware of their legal duty to declare their assets and urged the Auditor-General to remind them of their obligations under Article 286(1) of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550). These laws require asset declarations at the beginning of a public official’s tenure, every four years, and upon leaving office.
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah later confirmed the deadline, stressing that appointees had been given ample time to fulfill their obligations.
Ghana’s asset declaration system has often been criticized for its lack of transparency. In response, Mahama called for reforms to make asset declarations public, arguing that greater openness would help curb the accumulation of unexplained wealth.
“I have chosen to submit my declaration publicly to bring more openness into the process,” he stated. “If properly enforced, this can be a strong deterrent to corruption.”
