Attorney General Agrees With OccupyGhana That 6 Month Extension On Declaration Of Assets Is Unconstitutional

The Attorney General has agreed with pressure group, OccupyGhana, that the 6 month extension given to public office holders to declare their assets and liabilities is unconstitutional.

In an exchange of letters with OccupyGhana, the Gloria Akuffo assured that the office will initiate an amendment of the Act.

Subsequently, the AG has said in a statement that the office will seek approval of cabinet to begin processes to enact a bill to amend Act 550 which is inconsistent with clause (1) of Article 286 of the constitution.

The decision is in response to OccupyGhana which had written to the Office of the Attorney General in December 2019 to draw her attention to the contradictions in the Constitution.

According to the group, the concluding sentence of section 1(4) of the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550), which extends the time for public office holders to declare their assets by six months, is inconsistent with Article 286(1) of the Constitution.

Following Gloria Akuffo’s concurrence and the promise to initiate amendment, OccupyGhana has written back congratulating her “candour.”

“We, therefore, respectfully suggest that there should be clear timelines on when the Memorandum and Bill will be drafted and laid before (a) Cabinet, (b) Parliament, and (c) when the bill will be passed into law,” OccupyGhana stated.