President John Dramani Mahama has announced that all appointees under his administration who receive gifts or hampers worth GH¢20,000 or more are required to declare them.

He issued the directive on Monday, May 5, 2025, during the official launch of the Code of Conduct for Political Appointees.

“If a gift is received during an official engagement and its estimated value exceeds GH¢20,000, it must be declared. Upon leaving office, the gift must be surrendered unless expressly permitted by the President to retain it,” he stated.

He further added, “As for hampers and gift items, no government funds, including internally generated funds, are to be used to purchase or distribute hampers. The only exception is modest gifts given to staff as a reward for excellence or retirement.”

The President also noted that for government institutions that distribute hampers or gifts as part of their corporate or commercial policy, express approval for the budgeted expenditure must first be obtained from the Office of the Chief of Staff.

“All official or unofficial travel outside Ghana must receive prior approval from the Chief of Staff’s office. After each official trip, a report must be submitted, and any imprest retired within 14 days of return,” he added.

President Mahama also issued a stern warning regarding the acquisition of state property by government appointees.

“No political appointee under this administration is permitted to purchase state assets, whether land, vehicles, shares, or buildings, directly or indirectly. If you attempt to do so and are found out, your appointment will be terminated,” he warned.

JKB/MA

Meanwhile, watch why #SaveTheJudiciaryDemo is trending on GhanaWeb TV below