Charlotte Osei urges the Asset Declaration regime to be amended.

Ghana’s asset declaration system has to be changed, according to Charlotte Osei, the former chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).

Following the release of a new report by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) that included startling statistics regarding the expense of winning elections in Ghana, she made these comments.

Serious questions have been raised by this development regarding the nation’s efforts to combat corruption and the future of democratic governance.

The report claims that an estimated $150 million and an extra GHS 10 million are now needed to win the presidential and legislative elections.

The report cautions that the increasing monetisation of the political process is strengthening corruption and undermining accountability in public office, which is why the price tag is so high.

Charlotte Osei, a member of the Constitutional Review Committee, spoke at the occasion and stressed the importance of critically examining the asset declaration regime.

Madam Osei characterised it as “a critical key for fighting corruption with public office holders.”

“I don’t know if we’ve applied it to that level, but for some reason, the Constitution states that general managers of state-owned businesses or businesses in which the state has interests must also comply with this asset declaration scheme.

She stated that in order to improve openness and public confidence, reforms are required.

“I’m also wondering that, if we had a system where, on assumption of office, you declare it is very verified, such a stringent regime, will actually help.”