Advocacy Group ASEPA Sues Attorney-General Over Asset Declaration Regime
The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) has filed a lawsuit against Ghana’s Attorney-General over the country’s weak asset declaration regime.
The group is seeking a Supreme Court directive that mandates public office holders who declared their assets under the defective provision of Act 550 to resubmit their declarations to the Auditor General.
ASEPA is also requesting a declaration that asset declarations by public office holders should reflect their asset position before assuming office, as stipulated by Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution, rather than at the time of declaration.
The Public Office Holders Declaration of Asset and Liabilities Act 1998 (Act 550) mandates public office holders whose remuneration is equivalent to that of a Civil Service Director to declare their assets before assuming office.
However, compliance with this law has been inconsistent among public officials, leading to debates and controversies.
ASEPA argues that Act 550 violates Article 286(1) of the Constitution and seeks its nullification.
Article 286 mandates public office holders to declare their assets and liabilities before taking office, every four years, and at the end of their term.
The lawsuit comes in the wake of debates and scandals involving the asset declarations of government officials.
The case sheds light on the need to strengthen Ghana’s asset declaration regime to ensure transparency and accountability among public office holders.
