Former presidential staffer Dennis Miracles Aboagye is unimpressed by what he calls the “fanfare” surrounding President John Mahama’s recent asset declaration.
To him, it’s old news dressed in new clothes.
“What President Mahama has done is nothing new,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday.
“I have declared my assets twice. Nana Akufo-Addo did it too. The only difference is that maybe he didn’t put cameras on it.”
Mr Aboagye, who coordinated local government and decentralisation under the Akufo-Addo administration, said the fanfare around Mahama’s move was misplaced.
“It was the rule. We declared. I coordinated receipts for all MMDCEs across the country. I had to engage each of the 261 and collect their proof,” he said.
The spokesperson for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign recalled how strict the process was under Akufo-Addo.
“Ekow Essuman was the anchor at the presidency. He made sure it was done. The former Chief of Staff used to call me to ask: The other 10 left, when are they bringing theirs?”
To him, this isn’t a matter of leadership novelty. “It was a Cabinet decision. We had a whip,” but the appointees just didn’t film themselves walking to drop an envelope.
But beyond the politics, Aboagye questioned the point of the current asset declaration regime.
“My view has always been that we should stop wasting our time discussing it,” he said. “It’s a complete waste of time.”
“Either we reform it or scrap it entirely. Because what is the point? I pick a form. I fold it three times just to open it. I spent three weeks trying to understand it. I fill it, seal it, and give it to someone who never opens it.”
“As I sit here, I’ve declared my assets twice—and so what? What I put in there, nobody knows.”
Miracles Aboagye described the forms as outdated, confusing, and full of irrelevant sections.
“The content does not necessarily apply to our context. The kind of information being required—it’s a chore to quantify assets in Ghana,” he said. “You either underdeclare or overdeclare.”
Even more worrying for him is what happens after the declaration.
“I do it in January. I dispose of one asset in September. How do I update it? Who even receives that update?”
He said the current system has no real checks, no impact, and no transparency.
“Honestly speaking, it’s a waste of my time.”
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
