A number of chief executives and board chairpersons of state-owned enterprises have failed to comply with the constitutional requirement to declare their assets, even after a public warning by President John Dramani Mahama urging them to do so.
According to an official list released by the government, several leaders of public institutions did not submit their asset declaration forms within the specified timeframe, despite reminders and directives from the Presidency. Asset declaration is a legal obligation intended to promote transparency and accountability among public office holders and prevent corruption.
The list includes executives and board chairs from a range of state-owned companies and statutory bodies. Some of the organisations affected operate in key sectors such as energy, finance, and infrastructure, where transparency in leadership has significant public interest implications.
President Mahama had on several occasions reminded heads of public agencies to fulfil their legal requirement to declare assets, emphasising that compliance is necessary to build trust in public institutions and uphold good governance standards. His administration made the warnings in public addresses, official meetings and directives to the institutions overseeing compliance.
Governance experts say that asset declaration by leaders of state-owned enterprises helps to deter misconduct by creating a public record of officials’ financial interests and liabilities. Failure to declare assets not only breaches constitutional obligations but also raises questions about commitment to ethical leadership and accountability.
Reacting to the list, some civil society groups expressed disappointment, saying that the failure of these high-ranking officials to comply with the law undermines efforts to strengthen integrity in public life. They have called on the appropriate oversight bodies to take decisive action and enforce sanctions where necessary to ensure future compliance.
Legal analysts also noted that the leadership of these institutions must be held to high standards, and that non-compliance with asset declaration rules should have clear consequences to reinforce the rule of law and deter similar breaches.
