Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah, Dormaa East MP
The Dormaa East MP, Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah, has emphasised the urgency of expediting the asset declaration digitalisation process to bolster the nation’s efforts in combating corruption.
In an interview with a section of the media, the MP highlighted the significance of this technological advancement in ensuring transparency and accountability among public officials.
He explained that the measure would involve creating a secure and efficient online platform where public officials can declare their assets and interests, making it easier to track and verify any potential illicit gains.
“The current paper work required for public office holders to declare their assets was quite “laborious”, making it difficult for many government appointees and civil servants alike to comply with the law. I am, therefore, calling on the Auditor-General to, as soon as practicable, move away from this paper work and computerise the digitalisation process; give me a code to sit behind my machine anywhere, open it and update it. If I update it and submit it, I cannot alter it,” he said.
Asset declaration
Mr Twum-Barimah stated that the digitalisation of the new asset declaration form should be akin to the visa application form that allowed applicants to update their details but could not alter it.
“We should be able to update our asset declaration forms everywhere one finds him or herself but we cannot alter them. That is supposed to be the way because current paper work is becoming difficult.
“We have many people who have not declared their assets and if A-G should go strictly by the law, I can confidently say that there are many people in Ghana who will be put behind bars,” he added.
The Dormaa East MP noted that public office holders who earned above a certain salary were required to declare their asset at a certain level.
Contrarily, he indicated that many such public servants at the various ministries, departments and agencies had not yet declared their assets due to the laborious processes associated with asset declaration.
“I know the A-G is in the process to digitalise asset declaration process but they must fastrack the entire process so that we will be able to make things easier for everyone.
“It is about time we allowed the law to take its course than we the human being taking our own course and doing things at our will,” he said.
Minority wrong
On the Minority’s statement that they would picket on the premises of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to demand for the resignation of the Governor of BoG, Dr Ernest Addison, Mr Twum-Barimah kicked against the decision.
He said if the Minority felt the governor had committed a crime or broken the law and an action needed to be taken, the law must be applied instead of resorting to picketing.
“The Minority can also test the law because I think Act 918 that governs the Bank of Ghana has stated clearly how you can remove a Governor of the BoG. So, why we are not using that procedure?” he asked.
The MP indicated the Minority had many channels to address their concern, reminding them that they also had Ranking Members on the Finance Committee that could “haul the Governor of the Bank of Ghana” before the committee to answer expenditures by the bank.
“I do not think it is intimidation, threatening and pushing somebody to do something but let us use every medium that is available to correct mistakes to make our country great,” he stressed.
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