OccupyGhana and the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have criticized the prolonged delays in passing the Conduct of Public Officers Bill (CoPO), stating that these delays demonstrate a lack of commitment from both the government and Parliament in addressing the increasing issue of public corruption.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, September 4, the CSOs highlighted the bill’s lengthy and challenging journey, stressing that its passage could have addressed numerous instances of unexplained wealth.
However, they claim that the bill is currently encountering significant resistance at the cabinet level.
The CSOs expressed their surprise and concern over the bill’s continued stagnation, especially since it was adopted by Parliament’s Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee as far back as July 2020.
“We firmly believe that the recent controversies surrounding public officials and seemingly unexplained wealth could have been resolved if the 2022 CoPO Bill had been enacted. Perhaps, that is why the Bill is facing strong resistance within Cabinet.
“This is particularly shocking, considering that the 2018 CoPO Bill was previously recommended for Parliament’s adoption with minimal suggestions by the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in July 2020.
“The failure to pass any CoPO Bill since 2013 indicates a lack of commitment from successive governments and parliaments to combat the rising cases of alleged corruption, including procurement breaches and conflicts of interest in the Fourth Republic.”
The CSOs further attributed the growing public perception of corruption to the delays in passing the bill.
“A recent Afrobarometer survey shows that a majority (77%) of Ghanaians believe the level of corruption in the country has increased, and that the government is doing a poor job of fighting it. Additionally, many citizens (69%) perceive widespread corruption in key public institutions but fear retaliation if they report cases to the authorities (CDD, News Release, 28 July 2022).
“As widely reported, corruption undermines public institutions, leading to low public confidence in government and economic systems, and eroding the trust necessary for a functioning market economy.”
The bill is expected to require public officers, among other obligations, to declare their assets upon assuming and leaving office.
