Source: Africa Publicity
A former Auditor-General of Ghana, Daniel Domelevo has raised concerns about the suspicious wealth of public officials in his country, highlighting the discrepancy between their modest salaries and lavish lifestyles. He emphasized the need for transparency, questioning how some officials accumulated vast wealth during their short tenure in office.
Domelevo shared his experiences in enforcing asset declaration laws, revealing that even members of the judiciary, including former Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah and several judges, failed to declare their assets. This lack of transparency, he suggested, contributes to the perception that some public officials may be misusing public funds for personal gain.
Daniel Domelevo expressed frustration at the lack of consequences for such non-compliance, especially from institutions tasked with upholding the law.
“When people complained or petitioned the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), I was completely disappointed when the Commission just said that, well, there are no punishments prescribed in any law for them. Or that Act 550 does not prescribe any punishment. So, go and sin no more,” he recounted.
He questioned the inconsistency in the application of constitutional requirements.
“I thought that if the Constitution says you should do something before you can enter office, and you didn’t do that before coming to office, you are occupying the office unconstitutionally,” Domelevo stressed.
“For instance, could President Mahama just wake up on January 7, 2025, and say that he’s been voted for as president, so he’s going to start without being sworn in? No, it cannot happen.
“But how come we religiously comply with those requirements—including swearing in ministers—but when it comes to asset declaration, which the same Constitution demands before assuming office, people ignore it?” he asked.
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