President John Dramani Mahama has barred all his appointees from accepting gifts or favors, especially from companies or individuals with interest in governmental decisions.
According to him, if a gift received during an official engagement is valued at over 20,000 cedis, it must be declared. Upon leaving office, the gift must be handed over unless the president has explicitly granted permission to retain it.
Speaking at the launch of the Code of Conduct for appointees in Accra on Monday, May 5, President Mahama said the code of conduct is a living and enforceable framework that outlines what is expected of every individual appointed under his administration.
Read also: Code of Conduct Introduction: Lawyer Pushes for Legal Reinforcement
He said though the document often uses the term minister, it applies broadly to deputy ministers as well, to presidential staffers, to chief executive officers and their deputies, to members of the council of state, to board members, and to other political appointees within the executive arm of government.
“And I include myself; it applies to my vice president, myself, the president, the chief of staff, the executive secretary, all advisors—all of us are bound by this code of conduct.”
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Read the full code of conduct:
This code is designed to guide our actions and decision-making and to make clear the consequences that will happen when we fall short.
Now let me highlight a few key principles and provisions of the code.
All political appointees must serve the public with integrity and impartiality, must place the national interest above their personal interest, must avoid misuse of office or state resources, must declare and manage any potential conflict of interest, must eschew opulence, be accountable for every city or public money you spend, and must be humble in service, measured in language, and respectful to citizens at all times.
You are not in office to wield power; you are here to serve the people of Ghana.
The second is conflict of interest. Any situation that creates a conflict between your personal interest and your official duties must be avoided or disclosed.
This includes holding stakes in companies that deal with governments or with your ministries, using insider knowledge for your personal benefit, and awarding contracts to entities that are connected to yourself or your close family.
If you are a government partner in any business engaging with the government, even outside your ministry, you must disclose it in writing to this office.
Not through a telephone call, not through a relative; you must submit an official declaration.
Failure to do so will result in disloyal action.
Number three, interest of friends and family. Public perception matters.
You must avoid making decisions that benefit your relatives or your close friends.
You must not recommend them for contracts or appointments. If your actions give even the appearance of bias, you compromise the integrity of your office.
Number four, gifts and humbleness. We all know our cultural fondness for gifts, but we must now draw a clear line between appreciation and influence.
Appointees are prohibited from accepting gifts or favors, especially from companies or individuals with interest in governmental decisions.
If a gift is received during an official engagement and its estimated value exceeds 20,000 cedis, a value is declared, and upon leaving office, the gift must be surrendered unless expressly permitted to retain it by the president.
As for hampers and gift items, no government funds, including internally generated funds, are to be used to purchase or distribute hampers.
The only exception is modest gifts to staff as a reward for excellence or retirement.
For government entities that must distribute hampers or gifts as part of their corporate commercial policy, express permission for the budgeted expenditure must be received from the Office of the Chief of Staff.
For ministerial travel, all official or unofficial travel outside Ghana must receive and await its prior approval from the Chief of Staff’s Office.
After each official trip, a report must be submitted on the trip and any interests retired within 14 days after your return.
Where government is footing the bill, the trip must be necessary, it must be budgeted for, and aligned with national priorities. Retroactive approvals will no longer be entertained.
Prohibition on Purchasing State Assets
No political appointee under this administration is permitted to purchase state assets, whether land, vehicles, shares, or buildings, directly or indirectly.
If you attempt to do so and you are found out, your appointment will be terminated.
We are here to protect the national interests, not to help ourselves to the national past.
Sanctions for Violation The Court sets out consequences for breach, from public apology to reprimand, to suspension, to resignation, or ultimately termination.
Let me assure you that these sanctions are not cosmetic, they will be enforced, and I will not hesitate to act friendly and decisively, no matter who is involved.
Kindly do not put me in a position where I have to make that drastic choice, because when it comes to protecting the integrity of this Government, I will not compromise.
Citizen Engagement and Reporting Accountability does not end at the walls of this room and in just one Code of Conduct.
I invite the citizens of Ghana to play a role in monitoring compliance of this Code.
A portal will be created for the public to report suspected breaches, with guarantees of confidentiality and impartial investigation.
Ladies and Gentlemen, What we launch today is more than a Code, it is a declaration of intent.
It is the foundation of a new ethos in public service, one that values ethics over expediency, duty over indulgence, country over self.
We are here to serve and will serve with honour.
On the 18th February 2025, I set a deadline of 31st March 2025 for all appointees who are taking office or being nominated at the time to declare their assets.
An update provided by the Auditor General to my office indicates that some of you failed to meet that deadline.
For all those who were appointed or nominated before 31st March 2025 and failed to meet the deadline, you are to forfeit three months of salary to be donated to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, named after me, Mahama Cares
In addition to one month’s salary, then I have asked all appointees to donate to the Mahama Kers Trust Fund.
So it means that those who omitted to declare their assets by the date, you are paying four months’ salary to MahamaCares.
However, in my close-up day Wednesday 7th May 2025, any of you still fails to declare your assets, count yourself automatically dismissed.
The assets declaration regime is an important mechanism to check corruption and abuse of office and it must be respected by all.
My brothers and sisters, this is a very strict code, I must admit.
But if we abide by this code, it will restore the faith of our people in our democracy.
Strict compliance with this code will restore confidence in the political elite and help to consolidate our democracy.
And so I expect all of you to do your best to abide by the code.
Let us walk this path together with discipline, with humility and with an unyielding commitment to the people of Ghana. Go ye forth and comply.
