GACC Urges Review of Asset Declaration Law to Strengthen Anti-Corruption Efforts
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) is calling for a comprehensive review of the country’s asset declaration and liability laws to enhance the fight against corruption. The call was made by the Programme Officer of GACC, Samuel Harrison-Cudjoe, during a one-day workshop held in Sunyani on effective strategies for combating corruption. The event brought together civil society groups and other stakeholders.
According to Harrison-Cudjoe, the current legal framework governing asset declaration by public office holders is riddled with significant gaps, particularly in the areas of verification, monitoring, and public transparency. These loopholes, he argues, weaken the country’s ability to prevent and detect corruption at all levels of public service.
“We feel that the law has deficiencies that do not allow us to properly fight against corruption,” he stated. “The law lacks a verification angle where we are able to check to be sure that what people say they have declared are actually what they have.”
He further noted that the absence of a monitoring mechanism and the inability of citizens to access information on declared assets limits civic engagement and accountability.
“The law does not allow us to publish the asset declarations so that citizens within the community will know what our politicians do,” Harrison-Cudjoe added.
The GACC believes that incorporating public verification and monitoring into the law will empower citizens and civil society organizations to play a more active oversight role. This, in their view, is critical to curbing corruption and improving governance outcomes in Ghana.
As part of its recommendations, the Coalition is urging Parliament and relevant state institutions to fast-track amendments to the law, including provisions for independent audits of asset declarations, real-time public disclosure, and strict penalties for false declarations. The Sunyani workshop forms part of the Coalition’s broader advocacy campaign to promote transparency, good governance, and accountability in public office through legal reforms and public education.
