A policy dubbed: “Ghana Gift Policy (GGP)” under the National Anti-corruption Action Plan (NACAP) would make it compulsory for public office holders and public servants to hand over gifts received to their heads of institutions to take final decisions on the disposal of the gift.
Mr Chief State Attorney at the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, Sampong Asiama, who made this know at a sensitisation workshop for public servants on the NACAP, said Government, is determined to fight corruption in the public sector with stringent policies and measures to prevent public officials from receiving or soliciting gifts from service providers.
He said gifts received by public officials have the potential of influencing them to engage in corrupt practices.
Mr Asiama said the Ghana Gift Policy, under the NACAP, requires public servants to sign and make gift statements every quarter and hand them over to their heads, whilst heads of institutions are to forward them to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
He said the new arrangement allows public servants to declare gifts accepted or declined by a client, adding that, people sometimes force public servants to take gifts from them, but if you decline and they insist you must report them.
“When you accept a gift you have to show it to the ethics officer in your institution, fill a form and give the gift to the head of the institution who will decide on how to dispose of it”.
Mr Asiamah said perishable items received as gifts under the policy are to be donated to an orphanage while non-perishable items are to go back to the giver.
He said the gift form required public servants to provide details such as names, particulars of the donor, description of the gift, reason for the gift and ‘state whether it was accepted or rejected.
Director of the Anti-Corruption Unit at CHRAJ, Charles Ayamdoo said the NACAP was aimed at controlling and reducing corruption, and that, it was in line with Chapter 24 of the 1992 Constitution and would provide a conducive environment for people to report corruption without fear or favour.
