Freddie Blay
PLANS ARE in the pipeline for the introduction of a new law that will send public servants who refuse to declare their assets before taking office to prison.
A high-level meeting involving President Nana Akufo-Addo and some top members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government about the looming law has taken place recently.
Freddie Blay, the NPP National Chairman, who attended the meeting, has disclosed that the President is passionate to get rid of corruption and protect the public purse.
According to him, President Akufo-Addo does not feel comfortable whenever any public servant is tagged as corrupt, especially under his administration.
The NPP National Chairman said the President has realised that the Asset Declaration Law seems not to be biting enough, so he has decided to tighten it to make it functional.
“Government is planning to come out with a new code of conduct for public servants, which will mandate all public servants to declare their assets before they hold public office.
“Under the new law, the net for the declaration of assets by public servants will be widened and so if you fail to declare your assets as required by law, you can go to prison,” he stressed.
Speaking with Oyerepa TV in an interview where he touched on so many pressing national issues, Freddie Blay said the President is determined to fight the corruption menace.
“The new code of conduct for public servants that we discussed at a meeting recently demands that all public servants should declare their assets before they hold public office.
“If you fail to comply, it is punishable, you may go to prison,” he announced, adding that how people acquired their wealth too would be questioned when declaring their assets.
Freddie Blay, who condemned corruption in public office, was of the strong conviction that the new law, when passed, would help prevent people from milking the country.
He also admonished the citizenry to collaborate in their own ways in order to help the president’s strenuous efforts to get rid of the corruption canker from the country.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi