Akufo-Addo couldn’t declare his assets over lack of receipt book

President Nana Akufo-Addo assumed office on January 7, 2017 following a successful election campaign during which he promised to clamp down on corruption. However, that promise appears to be stalling even before he it takes hold.

President Nana Akufo-Addo had a taste of the inefficiencies in Ghana’s public service when he attempted to declare his assets to the Auditor General.

The president was hoping to fulfil the constitutional requirement of declaring his assets upon assuming the highest office of the land but that could not happen because the Auditor General’s department has run out of receipt books.

A deep throat source at the Flagstaff House told Accra-based Citi FM, the president was shocked when the official he sent to carry out the obligation, reverted with the news.

The receipt book is needed to serve as proof that the mandatory exercise of asset declaration had been carried out by the president.

The situation was compounded when the official asked that a phone call be place when the department had been restocked with receipt books so he could come back.

Surprisingly, he was told the landline phones at the department were also not working.

According to the source, workers at the department did not know the request was being made by the president as Members of Parliament, Ministers and other low ranking public officers are mandated to also declare their assets.

It is unclear when the president would now be able to do this.

President Nana Akufo-Addo assumed office on January 7, 2017 following a successful election campaign during which he promised to clamp down on corruption. However, that promise appears to be stalling even before he it takes hold.

Although he is mandated to declare his assets only to the Auditor General before and after his term, the president has in the past committed to make that declaration public.