CSOs Coalition Demand Urgent Passage of Conduct of Public Officers Bill Amid Cabinet Hesitancy
The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and OccupyGhana have issued a strongly worded statement expressing deep dissatisfaction with the Cabinet’s reluctance to approve the Conduct of Public Officers Bill (CoPO) for enactment.
Despite repeated assurances from President Akufo-Addo and Attorney-General Godfred Dame that the Bill would be passed, the Cabinet has yet to take action, raising concerns over the government’s commitment to tackling corruption.
The CoPO Bill, first introduced in 2008 and most recently laid before Parliament in 2020, seeks to reform the declaration of assets and liabilities, address conflicts of interest, and establish a code of conduct for public officials.
The CSOs argue that the passage of this Bill is essential for strengthening governance and enhancing transparency within Ghana’s public sector.
The statement particularly challenges the Cabinet’s assertion that existing laws are sufficient, calling it a “false claim” and highlighting the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs’ 2020 report, which deemed current legislation inadequate for ensuring public office accountability.
This delay is seen as part of a broader pattern of governmental inaction on anti-corruption measures, which has raised alarm among civil society groups and the public. A recent Afrobarometer survey underscores this sentiment, with 77% of Ghanaians perceiving corruption as on the rise and 69% expressing fears of reprisal if they report corrupt activities.
The CSOs’ statement further notes the inconsistency between the government’s public commitments and its actions. The 2020 New Patriotic Party (NPP) manifesto promised the publication and enforcement of the CoPO Bill, yet recent statements from the government have shifted focus towards a broader Corruption Act, further delaying the CoPO’s passage.
The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and OccupyGhana by the statement are therefore calling on Ghanaians, civil society, and the media to rally behind the campaign for the Bill’s approval and enactment, stressing the urgency of institutionalizing reforms that can restore public trust and ensure effective governance, urging swift action to pass the CoPO Bill, which they argue is critical to setting a new standard for public service integrity in Ghana.
