'GH¢20,000 is too much' – Dr Pumpuni Asante urges review of gift limits for appointees

The Director of Policy Engagements at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is concerned about a loophole in the gift policy. This policy is part of President John Mahama’s new code of conduct for appointees.

Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante spoke on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday. He warned that without changes, officials could exploit this policy. They might accept high-value gifts while appearing to follow the rules.

He noted that international best practices suggest a limit of $50 for gifts. In contrast, the Ghanaian threshold is ¢20,000, which is over $1,000. Dr. Asante called this amount significant.

He raised concerns about the vagueness of the threshold and its implications. He asked if ¢20,000 was a yearly total or a monthly limit. An appointee could receive ¢20,000 every month without breaking any rules.

Dr. Asante described this loophole as a ticking time bomb. He pointed out many issues with the current gift procedure. He believes they were trying to find balance but missed key objectives.

The goal should be to avoid conflicts of interest situations. Dr. Asante emphasized that appearance matters in governance as much as actual wrongdoing.

He stated it can be hard to monitor gift-giving intentions. Therefore, it’s better to avoid creating such situations altogether.

He urged those drafting the code to rethink their approach and revise it urgently. “You’re creating opportunities for exploitation,” he said.

His comments came after President John Mahama launched a new code of conduct for public officials. This code addresses gifts, asset declarations, and conflicts of interest.

However, analysts like Dr. Asante worry it lacks clarity and enforcement mechanisms needed for success. If not properly regulated, gift-giving may lead to influence and subtle corruption.

Dr. Asante believes Ghana needs clear and strict rules on gifts for powerful officials. “We don’t want to encourage the culture we all complain about,” he concluded.