Ghana Must Establish Pre-Exit Vetting System for Public Officials – Mireku Duker

Strengthening Accountability Before Officials Exit

Mireku Duker, a prominent anti-corruption campaigner, has called on Ghana to establish a robust mechanism to vet public appointees before the end of their tenure. His intervention comes amid growing concerns about unexplained wealth accumulation among government officials.

Duker argues that current systems fail to monitor officials adequately whilst they remain in office, leaving little opportunity to verify the source of assets before they leave their posts. He emphasises the need for proactive oversight rather than reactive investigations after officials have already departed.

The proposed mechanism would include:

• Regular asset declarations and verification during tenure
• Independent audits of officials' financial records
• Mandatory clearance processes before end of service
• Coordination between relevant anti-corruption agencies

The call comes as Ghana continues efforts to strengthen its anti-corruption framework. Existing frameworks have faced criticism for being reactive rather than preventative, often investigating officials long after they have left office.

Observers note that such pre-exit mechanisms could serve as a deterrent to corrupt practices and provide clearer accountability trails for both current and former appointees across Ghana's public service.