Ghanaians Call for Dismissal of John Dumelo, Others for Reportedly Defying President’s Directive

• Some government appointees have allegedly breached a directive from President Mahama to declare their assets within a stipulated time
• The appointees, including John Dumelo, were expected to declare these by March 31, 2025, but as of April 17, had reportedly not complied
• A news report on the matter has prompted various reactions from Ghanaians, including a call for dismissal from their respective roles

Deputy Agriculture Minister, John Dumelo and other appointees have allegedly breached President John Mahama’s directive for all appointees to declare their assets by March 31, 2025.

The actor-turned-politician was appointed in February 2025 and was expected to declare his assets by the deadline, but as of April 17, 2025, he had reportedly not done so within this time frame.

A document by The Fourth Estate stated that 32% of appointees appointed since President Mahama took office in January had not declared their assets.

A breakdown of the figures indicated that nine out of 55 ministers and deputy ministers had failed to comply with the law and the President’s directive.

Also, eight out of 32 presidential staffers and 37 of the 84 heads of state institutions appointed between January 15 and March 18 had also failed to comply.

Presidential Adviser on the Economy Seth Terkper, Director of Operations at the Presidency Nathan Kofi Boakye, and Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States Larry Gbevlo-Lartey were all claimed to have defaulted on the directive.

​In Ghana, asset declaration by public officials is mandated by Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550). These laws aim to promote transparency, prevent corruption, and ensure accountability in public service.​

Mahama's asset declaration directive

​President Mahama has made asset declaration a central pillar of his administration's anti-corruption strategy.

On February 18, 2025, he publicly submitted his asset declaration forms to the Auditor-General at the Jubilee House, marking a significant departure from the traditional private submissions. This act was intended to promote transparency and set a precedent for public officials. ​

Following his declaration, President Mahama issued a directive to all government appointees, mandating them to declare their assets by March 31, 2025. He emphasised that failure to comply would result in severe sanctions, including possible removal from office

Other prominent names alleged to have defaulted included Charles Kipo (the Director of Operations at the Presidency), Nana Yaa Jantuah (the Director of the National Investigations Bureau), Ernest Brogya Gyamfi (Deputy Minister of Defence), Alhassan Suhuyini (Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways), Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui (Deputy Minister of Works and Housing), and John Dumelo (Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture).

The X post about the allegations is below:

The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong and Dr Peter Otukunor, who is in charge of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness at the Presidency, are also among those said to be complicit.

Netizens call for John Dumelo, others' dismissal

Netizens who saw the post about the reported failure of the named appointees to declare their assets were outraged.

Some said these appointees would be the downfall of the President's administration, while others demanded their dismissal from their respective roles.

@Abiamka_GH wrote:

"What kind of lawlessness is this? How long does it take to declare your properties to the Auditor-General?" @JDMahama, please don't pay them for the months they have worked without declaration of assets or sack them."

@ahafia_ga wrote:

"These ministers and appointees will be the down fall of president Mahama. We must start calling them out now."

@oboi_zi wrote:

"They should all be sacked."

@BaafiBantama wrote:

"NDC de3 dada no aa😂, but we will respect them to settle gradually. But after the grace period, we will leave no stone unturned!"

ASEPA drags Attorney General to Supreme Court

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) had sued the country's Attorney General over Ghana’s asset declaration regime.

The NGO wanted all public officers to be made to resubmit their asset declarations to the AG and kicked against the Public Office Holders Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act (550).

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh