The Ghana Auctioneers Association has pledged to operate within the law to ensure that public auctions are conducted openly and competitively for the maximum benefit of the country.

The association has also called on the government, through the Chief of Staff and the Ministry of the Interior, to investigate the growing practice of using unauthorised letters to circumvent established auction sales.

According to the association, no individual or office should override contracts legally awarded to licensed auctioneers.

Speaking after the election of new executives to lead the association for the next four years in the Greater Accra Region last Thursday, the General Secretary, Henry Maama Nelson, said interference in auction processes undermines transparency and deprives the state of revenue.

"When auction processes are infiltrated, disrupted or hijacked, it is not only auctioneers who suffer, but the state also loses revenue," he said, adding that the public also loses confidence in the auction industry.

Nelson urged heads of state institutions to respect auction mandates issued through due process and called on security agencies to act against individuals who threaten licensed auctioneers or seize assets outside the law.

He also appealed to the Ministry of Finance to expedite the issuance of sale mandates, noting that delays create opportunities for unscrupulous actors to exploit the system.

On documentation, he cautioned against pressuring licensed auctioneers to issue receipts, waybills or certificates for vehicles and other items they did not sell, warning that such practices could lead to fraud, undermine accountability and expose professionals to criminal liability.

Nelson further advocated reforms to promote professionalism and ethical standards in the industry, including maintaining a clean register of practitioners, supporting continuous professional examinations and collaborating with regulators to weed out unqualified operators.

He disclosed that the association plans to establish a website and strengthen its presence on social media to improve communication and enhance the image of the profession.

The newly elected President of the association, Ebenezer Nii Oti Ankrah, pledged to transform the organisation and create an enabling environment for members to carry out their work without interference from government officials or unscrupulous individuals.

He also promised to lead the association with integrity, humility and diligence while promoting honesty, fairness and discipline among members.