'We love gifts too much' - Domelevo condemn public officers over greed and gift culture

Former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo has criticized the focus on gifts in public office.

He believes public officers should live within their means, not rely on favors.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express with Evans Mensah, he rejected the new gift policy. The ¢20,000 gift threshold is “a no no,” he stated.

Domelevo said, “We seem to like gifts too much.” He emphasized that public employees are paid to live off their salaries.

Introducing a monetary ceiling for gifts creates loopholes for unethical behavior. It encourages public servants to justify wrong actions using technicalities.

He compared Ghana's threshold to the World Bank’s limit of $50 for gifts. Any gift above that amount must be surrendered.

Domelevo argued that Ghana should align its ethics with international standards. Keeping thresholds low can prevent normalizing influence-peddling in government.

While he acknowledged some positive aspects of the new code, he raised concerns about enforcement. Without legal backing, these rules may become mere political decorations.

He suggested adding valuable parts of the code to the existing Code of Conduct Bill and passing it into law. This would ensure continuity beyond Mahama’s administration.

Domelevo warned that without legislation, each new government could ignore these rules. He stressed the need for consistent guidelines for all public office holders.

He also expressed concern about asset declaration requirements in the code. The threshold for declaring luxury items like jewelry is set at ¢5 million.

Domelevo remarked that this amount is excessive and unrealistic for many people. He questioned if even his house is worth that much.

He pointed out that such thresholds do not align with Ghana’s existing laws and need revision.

“It is not consistent with Act 550,” he noted, urging a review to ensure compliance with legal standards.

His comments contribute to ongoing national discussions about integrity in public office.