BY Issah Olegor
A formal complaint has been filed with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), demanding a thorough investigation into the failure of several high-profile public office holders to declare their assets in accordance with Ghanaian law.
The complaint, submitted by journalist and civic activist Wilberforce Asare, targets board chairpersons and chief executives of major state-owned enterprises who allegedly failed to comply with their constitutional and statutory obligations under Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550).
It references Section 12 of the CHRAJ Act (Act 456) and invokes Article 287, which provides for sanctions against public officials who neglect this duty.
According to Wilberforce Asare, the action follows a response from the Auditor-General, dated 4 November 2025, which was issued after a Right to Information (RTI) request filed on 20 October 2025.
“In accordance with section 18 of Act 989, I respectfully request confirmation of whether the Chief Executives and Board Chairpersons of the following public institutions have submitted their asset and liability declarations to the Auditor-General as required under Article 286 of the Constitution and Act 550: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST)”, he stated.
The response confirmed that while most chief executives of the 15 public institutions surveyed had filed asset declarations, several did so in capacities unrelated to their current positions.
Moreover, nine board chairpersons, including those of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), and Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), had not submitted declarations at all.
Significant discrepancies highlighted in the complaint include:
Dr. Ransford Anertey Abbey, CEO of Ghana Cocoa Board, declared assets in March 2025 not as CEO but as a policy advisor to the Vice President (Political Affairs).
Isaac Andrew Tandoh, CEO of the Minerals Commission, filed declarations as deputy CEO in April 2025 rather than under his current role.
Bernard Ahiafor, board chairman of the State Insurance Company (SIC), and James Agalga, board chairman of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), declared assets as Members of Parliament rather than in their respective board chair capacities.
The complaint asks CHRAJ to investigate the breaches, determine the scope of non-compliance, and apply sanctions, including disqualification from holding public office, citing the precedent set in Ghana Integrity Initiative v. Adjenim Boateng Adjei & 9 Others.
Wilberforce Asare said Asset declaration is a cornerstone of the anti-corruption framework, aimed at preventing abuse of office and maintaining public trust. Asare noted that CHRAJ has historically upheld strict compliance, referencing previous sanctions against Prof. Douglas Boateng as a standard for enforcement.
The Auditor-General’s RTI response provided a comprehensive review of 15 major public institutions, confirming gaps in compliance among board chairs and certain chief executives.
Among the defaulting board chairs were Professor Joseph Oteng-Adjei (GNPC), Alhaji Huudu Yahaya Iddrisu (NPA), Richard Kwame Asante (MIIF), Franklin Mensah (GIIF), Dr. Joseph Nyarkotei Dorh (Ghana EXIM Bank), Kojo Fynn (Ghana Gold Board), Ernest Thompson (Petroleum Commission), Gerald Kofi Totobi Quakyi – Ghana Gas Company Limited and Nana Ansah Sasraku III (SSNIT).
Wilberforce Asare emphasized that failure to declare assets not only violates the Constitution but also undermines public confidence in governance.
“This is about accountability, transparency, and ensuring that those entrusted with public resources are fully compliant with the law,” he said.
The complaint, together with supporting documents from the Auditor-General, has been officially submitted to CHRAJ’s national office in Accra, with Wilberforce Asare expressing confidence that the Commission will act in line with its constitutional mandate.
