Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Policy Engagements at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), recently expressed strong opposition to President John Mahama’s acceptance of two gifted vehicles, even though the President subsequently transferred them to the state. On Joy News’ PM Express with Evans Mensah, Dr. Asante emphasized that such actions compromise the presidency and set a dangerous precedent for public office.
Dr. Asante asserted, “You don’t accept and then donate; you reject.” He stressed the importance of discouraging influential individuals from making high-value donations to the President, as this could lead to potential conflicts of interest that are difficult to resolve.
These remarks followed President Mahama’s introduction of a new Code of Conduct for appointees and his public declaration of the vehicle gifts. Dr. Asante questioned the potential for influence, asking, “How are you going to determine whether the President is influenced or not in those kinds of scenarios?”
Highlighting the need to avoid such situations entirely, Dr. Asante noted the difficulty in changing ingrained practices but urged the importance of not leaving room for ambiguous situations. He pointed to global standards as examples to follow for increasing accountability and integrity.
Regarding the newly proposed ¢20,000 threshold for declaring gifts, Dr. Asante raised concerns about its effectiveness and potential loopholes. “Whether you declare it or not, the mere act of accepting a high-value item as President carries implications,” he stated, emphasizing the necessity of changing perceptions about power and public office.
Dr. Asante concluded that Ghana must boldly establish clear boundaries to reform governance effectively, acknowledging the necessary discomfort that comes with striving for integrity.
Source: https://www.myjoyonline.com/
