South Dayi Member of Parliament Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has supported calls to publish assets declared by government appointees.
He is suggesting that the asset declaration forms should be attached to the Curriculum Vitae (CVs) of the appointees.
“In fact, it should be attached to your CV, the copy of the asset declaration forms should be attached to the CV,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, July 29 after a private legal practitioner Mr Martin Kpebu said on the same show that assets declared by all appointees must be published just as what pertained during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era.
Cecilia Dapaah Resignation: If you will not publish the assets of government appointees publicly after the declaration, then throw the bill away. – Martin Kpebu#TheKeyPoints pic.twitter.com/4ryMoVjyHc
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) July 29, 2023
Mr Kpebu indicated that if the assets would not be published then there is no need for the Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2022, which when passed, will amend and help strengthen the current public officers’ asset declaration regime.
“If you will not publish the assets of government appointees publicly after the declaration, then throw the bill away,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, July 29 while commenting on issues involving the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
A Professor at the University of Ghana Ransford Gyampo also asked all persons who elect themselves into political leadership positions to make it easier for the people to see through them.
He said transparency regarding the lifestyle of all appointees is critical in the governance process.
Also speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, July 29, he said “If we were to go into the homes of other appointees, there might be implosion or civil disorder. This incident makes me believe a lot of the appointees have monies in their homes.”
The Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North Andy Appiah Kubi however welcomed calls to search the homes of all appointees and other politicians including himself.
Also speaking on the same show he said “I am inviting whoever to come …I am ready, come or go to my house even as I sit here.”
Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah tendered her resignation on Saturday, July 22, barely 24 hours after the public discourse of her stolen cash.
Accepting her resignation, President Akufo-Addo described the work done by the former Bantama Member of Parliament as “excellent and productive”.
“It is with considerable regret that I accept your resignation, and I applaud your loyalty to the image and standing of the government,” he wrote on Saturday.
“The work you undertook during your period in Government was excellent and productive, and I thank you for your wholehearted contribution and devotion to the progress of the Government and the nation.”
In her resignation, Madam Abena Dapaah assured of her availability and cooperation with all state agencies to look into her matter, which she concedes has become a “hindrance” to the government at this “crucial” time.
“I have no doubt that at the end of the processes it will be established that I have conducted myself with integrity during my period in public service and I will be fully exonerated from all the allegations,” she further stated in her resignation letter.
President Akufo-Addo also expressed confidence that “at the end of the day, your integrity, whilst in office, will be fully established”.
The matter of the stolen monies – $1 million, €300,000 and millions of undisclosed Ghana Cedis – is in court. It is scheduled to be recalled on Wednesday, August 2.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OPS) searched her home last Monday and made ‘significant findings’.