By Amoako Kwame
Investigative journalist Seth Bokpe has criticised the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for failing to effectively enforce laws requiring public office holders to declare their assets.
His comments follow an investigation by The Fourth Estate, which revealed widespread non-compliance with the constitutional requirement among high-ranking public officials, including ministers, judges and heads of state institutions.
Speaking on GTV Breakfast Show, Bokpe said the failure of government officials to comply with asset declaration laws has persisted for years and that CHRAJ should be more proactive in addressing the issue.
“I think CHRAJ is sleeping on the job because the last time we did this in 2022, over 400 public office holders did not make their declarations. Four years on, we still do not know what CHRAJ has done about it,” he said.
Bokpe added that the Office of the Special Prosecutor would be better positioned to ensure compliance with the asset declaration law.
“If you ask me, this responsibility should go to the Special Prosecutor. The office recently published an article on how the former NPA boss, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, failed to include a house he claimed was gifted to him by former president Nana Akufo-Addo in his asset declaration,” he said.
The journalist also criticised CHRAJ for failing to act on petitions submitted by members of the public.
“Following our story, five people petitioned CHRAJ to take action, but nothing happened. There is no record to show that they investigated these individuals or held them accountable,” he said.
Pressure from investigative journalists such as Bokpe has at times prompted what he described as “rushed” compliance.
In 2025, an exposé led to 294 political appointees, including ministers and metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs), filing their asset declarations shortly after publication to avoid possible presidential sanctions.
However, transparency advocates say the continued lack of proactive enforcement by CHRAJ remains a major concern.
CHRAJ has pushed back against accusations of inactivity, citing legal limitations and the need for legislative reforms. Its commissioner, Joseph Whittal, has said the commission’s ability to sanction defaulters is tied to the Conduct of Public Officers Bill, which is yet to be passed by Parliament.
