'The President shouldn't give room to ambiguity' - Dr. Asante warns against gift acceptance in office

The Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships at the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr Kojo Pumpuni Asante, has spoken out against the practice of the President receiving gifts.

He argued that, regardless of the good intentions behind such gestures, the presidency should avoid accepting gifts due to the potential for conflicts of interest.

“It’s a no-no. These are high-value gifts. How are you going to determine whether the President is influenced or not in those kinds of scenarios?" he questioned.

“The President holds a lot of power to create conflict-of-interest situations, and because of that, we must not allow room for this kind of ambiguity."

Dr Asante made these remarks during a recent interview on Accra-based Joy News.

His comments come after President Mahama declared two vehicles as gifts during the launch of a new Code of Conduct for government officials on Monday, May 5, 2025, part of his broader agenda to promote ethical governance under his 120-day Social Contract.

JKB/MA

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