Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), acknowledged President John Dramani Mahama’s newly launched Code of Conduct as a move in the right direction—but insisted that Ghana needed more to truly root out corruption and ethical breaches in the public sector.
“This Code is a good start, but we cannot stop here,” Dr. Asante asserted. “If we are serious about accountability, we must go beyond documents and enforce real change.”
He pointed to Article 284 of the Constitution, which explicitly prohibits public officials from engaging in conflicts of interest, yet remains weakly enforced. “Why have laws if we ignore them?” he questioned. “The President must take bold steps to ensure compliance—starting with strict adherence to public ethics.”
Dr. Asante didn’t mince words when outlining what else needed to be done:
- Strict Enforcement of Public Ethics – “Laws exist, but without enforcement, they’re just words on paper. Public officers must be held accountable.”
- Transparency in Financial Management– “How can citizens demand accountability if they don’t even know the rules? Public sector financial laws must be made accessible to all.”
- Constitutional Reforms – “The ongoing constitutional review is a golden opportunity to strengthen conflict-of-interest clauses and embed ethics into governance.”
Dr. Asante’s message was clear: A Code of Conduct alone wouldn’t fix systemic corruption. What Ghana needed was a cultural shift—one where transparency and accountability weren’t just ideals but everyday practice.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
