NAPOs Nomination A Big Blow To The Fight Against Corruption ASEPA

Corruption has become very endemic in this Country, over the past few years citizens have been very worried about the growing rate of corruption especially among public office holders.

This year’s elections presents us an chance to make a number of reforms in the fight against corruption by making policy holders pledge to key policy changes that will strengthen then fight against corruption. Some of the reforms include the passage of the code of conduct for public officers bill, Strengthening our Asset Declaration regime and strengthening key institutions of accountability and ring-fencing them against political interference.

The nomination of Dr.Matthew Opoku Prempeh presents a huge test to these reforms. His conduct in office in the last seven years has violated most of the existing code of conduct for public officers.

Our independent investigations reveals that Dr.Matthew Opoku Prempeh failed to file his Declaration of Asset and Liabilities in compliance with Article 286 since he became Energy Minister.

It is also within reasonable suspicion that the same declarations were not filed when he was appointed as the Minister for Education in 2017.

In the coming days ASEPA would be officially filing a petition with the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice -CHRAJ for onwards investigations into the Asset Declarations status of Dr.Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

As we speak ASEPA is at the Supreme Court asking the Court to uphold the Supremacy of Article 286 relative to the Public Office Holders Declaration of Asset and Disqualification Act, Act 555.

Again one of the key reforms that ASEPA is seeking in the new code of conduct for public officers bill currently before Parliament is for Ministerial nominees to bring their Declaration of Assets and Liabilities to the vetting of Parliament for scrutiny by the appointments committee before filing at the Auditor General when the nominee is approved.

This we believe will strengthen the law and make compliance especially among Ministers of State, MPs and the Justices of the Superior Court more potent.

Signed:
Mensah Thompson
Executive Director, ASEPA
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