According to Ghanaweb, Media personality Afia Pokua, popularly known as Vim Lady, has strongly criticized the recent asset declaration made by President John Dramani Mahama, calling it ineffective and insufficient due to the lack of public access to the details. In an appearance on Okay FM on February 22, 2025, Vim Lady voiced her concerns over the transparency and accountability of the asset declaration process in Ghana.
According to Vim Lady, the current system fails to serve the public’s interest, as the asset details declared by public officials, including the President, are not made available for public scrutiny. She argued that citizens have the right to know the specifics of the assets declared by those in power, as this information is crucial for holding officials accountable.
“The asset declaration President Mahama did is useless; even Domelevo has said that. How can you declare it without making it public for Ghanaians to know the details?” Vim Lady questioned, referring to former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo’s long-standing call for public access to asset declarations.
Vim Lady’s comments align with those of Domelevo, who has consistently advocated for public disclosure of asset declarations as a measure to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of public office. Both Vim Lady and Domelevo argue that the secrecy surrounding such declarations weakens efforts to hold public officials accountable for their wealth and actions.
Vim Lady further pointed to international practices, specifically in the United States, where asset declaration records are made accessible to citizens. She suggested that Ghana should adopt a similar approach to promote transparency and increase trust in the government. According to Vim Lady, having public access to asset declarations is essential for preventing corruption and ensuring that officials are held to the highest standards of integrity.
In addition to her concerns about transparency, Vim Lady expressed frustration with the lack of progress in reforming the system. She accused both major political parties in Ghana, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), of resisting reforms that would increase accountability.
Sources; Ghana web