Appointee asset declarations should happen before taking office—Domelovo tells Mahama

Dominic Domelevo, a former Auditor General of Ghana, has praised President John Dramani Mahama for urging his appointees to declare their assets but emphasised the need for this process to be concluded before their swearing-in ceremonies.

Mr. Domelevo highlighted the critical role of asset declaration in fostering transparency and accountability in governance.

His comments followed President Mahama’s directive on Wednesday, January 22, during the swearing-in of six new ministers, where he instructed the appointees to declare their assets as a step toward strengthening public trust.

While commending the move, Mr Domelevo argued that the directive came late in the process, pointing to the law’s stipulations regarding asset declarations.

“If I were the president—thankfully, I am not the president—I would have told them, after going through vetting and all of that, to go and declare their assets and liabilities before I swear them in,” he remarked.

He asserted that requiring asset declarations before swearing-in would demonstrate a stronger commitment to good governance and set a higher benchmark for ethical standards among public officials.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, January 23, Mr Domelevo also called for more stringent enforcement of asset declaration laws, urging government bodies like the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to ensure compliance.

He stressed that proactive enforcement would deter corruption and build public confidence in the governance system.

He concluded by encouraging President Mahama to institutionalise a policy mandating pre-swearing-in asset declarations for all future appointees, describing it as “a simple yet powerful measure” that could enhance accountability and serve as a cornerstone in Ghana’s fight against corruption.