A Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Cape Coast, Kwadwo Addo Tuffour, has charged Ghanaians to question the unexplained wealth of public officials.
The Lecturer said although legally, one had the right to create wealth, citizens should question the source of wealth of public servants whose wealth did not match their official remuneration.
Mr Tuffour was speaking at a Zoom forum organised by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to commemorate its 30th-anniversary celebration.
The forum sought to explore how anti-graft institutions, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the public can make public servants and institutions more accountable.
Mr Tuffour stated that questioning the suspicious wealth of public officials was one of the ways in which the public could hold public officials and institutions accountable as stipulated by the 1992 Constitution, saying that the Constitution also mandates public institutions to render accountability to the citizens. He however lamented that, most of these duty bearers have refused to comply with the constitutional requirement.
He said in such situations, it behoved on the public to demand accountability if the institutions were not forthcoming.
The Principal of Enchi College of Education, Mr Philip Ntaah, also said that all activities of public institutions must be monitored and compared to set standards.
He suggested that CSOs should report on findings made on the institutions to a wider audience, adding that "When they get to know that the public is going to scrutinise their work, they will sit up."
He however, noted that the above measures would not materialise if the barriers to demanding accountability were not removed.
He stated that one of the factors that prevented CSOs and the public from demanding accountability was changes in the law, and called for the involvement of CSOs in the making of regulatory laws of public institutions to enable them to monitor the compliance level of those institutions.
He called on the government to resource functional CSOs to enhance their monitoring role and advised politicians to desist from harassing CSOs.
Hinged on the theme: "CHRAJ at 30: Promoting and Protecting Human Rights and Ensuring Transparency and Accountable Public Service Delivery", the forum also sought to strengthen stakeholder partnership at various levels and boost local participation in the operations of the Commission.
Latest Stories
-
Visionary Norman Foundation CEO leads cleanup initiative at the University of Cape Coast
2 mins -
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to grace 2024 African Mining Conference in Accra
2 mins -
‘My dream has always been to represent Cote d’Ivoire’ – Mohammed Diomande rejects Black Stars
3 mins -
Topi Amma – The mentally disabled woman worshipped as a divine mystic in India
5 mins -
Patronise local tourism to stabilise Cedi – Deputy Finance Minister to Ghanaians
6 mins -
University of Ghana stadium to host 2024 MTN FA Cup final
10 mins -
Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings urges participation in voter registration as she visits EC headquarters
17 mins -
Woman lives in supermarket rooftop sign for a year without anyone noticing
25 mins -
Journalism is a noble profession, it’s not a crime – African Media Convention Chair declares
34 mins -
Central Bank completes first proof of concept as part of Project DESFT
37 mins -
Asantehene settles dispute between chiefs and Newmont
48 mins -
Van Persie named new Heerenveen manager
49 mins -
E-Cedi holds prospect of facilitating Ghanaian MSMEs participation in international trade – BoG
53 mins -
Sammy Gyamfi raises alarm over arrest of pro-NPP hoodlums in Okaikwei North
60 mins -
Churchill Otieno commends African Journalists at the 3rd African Media Convention
1 hour