Charlotte Osei Advocates for Overhaul of Ghana’s Asset Declaration System
Former Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, has called for significant changes to Ghana’s current asset declaration framework, citing it as a vital tool in the fight against corruption and the promotion of transparent governance.
Her remarks came in response to a recent report by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), which revealed the staggering cost of contesting elections in the country. According to the findings, aspiring candidates now need approximately $150 million to run for the presidency and an additional GHS 10 million for parliamentary seats. This trend, the report warns, points to an increasing commercialization of the political process—an issue that threatens to erode democratic integrity and reduce public accountability.
Speaking at a forum organized to discuss the findings, Osei, who also serves on the Constitutional Review Committee, highlighted the urgent need to reform the asset declaration regime. She underscored its importance as a mechanism to track the wealth of public officials and detect potential abuse of office. Osei stressed that enhancing this system would be a powerful step toward improving public confidence in governance.
She noted that, although the Constitution requires a wide range of public officials, including general managers of state-owned enterprises or any entity in which the state holds a stake, to declare their assets, enforcement of this requirement has been weak. She questioned whether the asset declaration rules are applied evenly and consistently across the board.
Osei further argued that introducing a stricter and more transparent system would be beneficial. For instance, having public officials declare their assets upon assuming office, followed by thorough verification, could act as a deterrent to corruption. “If we had a system that truly scrutinized and verified these declarations from the start, it would greatly help promote accountability,” she stated.
Her comments echo growing concerns among civil society organizations and governance advocates who believe that the current lax approach to asset declaration limits its effectiveness. Calls for reform have been growing louder, especially given reports of non-compliance among top officials and weak penalties for violations.
Charlotte Osei’s call adds to a chorus of voices pushing for systemic changes to strengthen democratic institutions. As Ghana continues to face challenges with political financing and integrity in public office, many believe that reforming the asset declaration system is a necessary first step in restoring public trust and curbing corruption.
The conversation around these reforms is expected to gain momentum, particularly as public scrutiny over political financing and accountability intensifies in the wake of the 2024 elections.
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