Convener of the Media Coalition against Galamsey, Dr. Ing. Ken Ashigbey has advised the current government against justifying its actions with the failures of the past administration.
Speaking in relation to the asset declaration discussions, he said on the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, May 10, that “the reset should be benchmarked to the best.”
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“When we say reset, it means we are changing to the best, not a better option,” Dr Ashigbey stressed.
Prior to his comment, Minister of Government Communication Felix Kwakye Ofosu said that in the past, officials flouted the asset declaration law without any punishment meted out to them. However, President Mahama is charting a new path to punish officials who do not comply with the asset declaration regime.
“In the past, people flouted this with no consequences. This time, President Mahama is setting a certain tone,” he said.
“We have moved from the position where there was no sanction to where there is sanction,” he stressed.
He further said that the Auditor-General (A-G) will provide an update on the government officials who are yet to declare their assets.
He says the president will act when the update is provided by the A-G in a few days.
“The reason why we need to wait for the A-G and do a perusal is because people are appointed on a different date and time, even after the latest deadline, some people have been appointed.
“So we will get an update for the A-G to be certain of why it has not been done what and what actions will take place,” he said.
President John Dramani Mahama has penalised all his appointees who failed to meet the deadline for the declaration of assets.
He said they will all forfeit their salaries for four months.
He explained that earlier, all appointees had agreed to forfeit one-month salary.
As such, those who could not meet the deadline will forfeit three more months’ salaries.
“On 18th of February 2025, I set a deadline of 31st March for all appointees who are taking office or being nominated at the time to declare assets. An update provided by the Auditor General to my office indicates that some of you failed to meet that deadline.
“In addition to one month’s salary that I have asked all appointees to donate to the Mahama Cares Trust Fund. So it means that those who omitted to declare their assets by the date, you are paying four months’ salary to Mahama Cares,” he said.
In February, the President issued a directive to the effect that any appointee who failed to meet the asset declaration deadline would face serious sanctions, including removal from their positions.
Launching the Code of Conduct, President Mahama said it “applies broadly to ministers, deputy ministers, presidential staffers, the Chief of Staff, CEOs and their deputies, members of the Council of State, board members, and other political appointees within the executive arm of government.”
He added, “Failure to comply can lead to suspension or dismissal.”
