Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr has launched a scathing critique of Ghana’s asset declaration regime, labeling it fundamentally flawed and ineffective in promoting transparency and accountability among public officials.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Pratt emphasized that merely submitting asset declarations without subsequent verification renders the entire process meaningless.
“It’s a constitutional injunction on all public office holders to declare their assets, but the regime is problematic,” Pratt stated. “You write down your assets, file it with the Audit Service, and that’s it. Nobody verifies anything. It’s kept there until a court orders it to be opened. That’s a huge problem.”
Pratt further highlighted the loophole regarding the exclusion of spouses from the asset declaration process. He recalled promises from political leaders, including the New Patriotic Party in 1992 and former President Mills in 2000, to amend this oversight—promises that remain unfulfilled.
While acknowledging President Mahama’s recent decision to penalize appointees who failed to declare their assets by the March 31st, 2025 deadline, Pratt pointed out that constitutionally, such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
“The power to act is not vested in the president. It’s CHRAJ that is clothed with the constitutional authority to deal with these matters,” he noted. “However, there’s no law that prohibits the president from taking administrative action against appointees who violate the constitution.”
Pratt’s remarks have reignited discussions on the effectiveness of Ghana’s asset declaration system and the urgent need for reforms to ensure genuine accountability in public service.
