A Ghanaian citizen has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to take disciplinary action against the Board Chairman of the Ghana Gas Company Limited, Mr Gerald Kofi Totobi Quakyi, following a Decision by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) concluding that Mr Quakyi had breached the constitutional requirement to declare his assets.
In a letter dated 18 February 2026 and addressed to the President of the Republic, Jubilee House, Mr. Wilberforce Asare drew attention to CHRAJ’s determination, which found that Mr. Totobi Quakyi did not comply with the constitutional requirement on asset declaration.
“I write to respectfully draw your attention to a decision of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), dated 13 February 2026,” Mr. Asare stated, adding that the complaint concerned “the failure of certain public office holders to comply with their constitutional obligation to declare their assets and liabilities.”
Unreasonable delay
According to the Petitioner, CHRAJ concluded that Mr. Totobi Quakyi failed to declare his assets and liabilities within the constitutionally mandated timeframe.
“CHRAJ found that Mr. Gerald Kofi Totobi Quakyi… failed to declare his assets and liabilities within the constitutionally and statutorily prescribed period of six months,” the letter said.
The Commission further noted that his declaration was submitted late. “The Commission further found that his eventual declaration was made two months outside the statutory period,” Mr. Asare wrote.
CHRAJ reportedly rejected the justification offered by the Ghana Gas Board Chair, describing it as unreasonable.
“The explanation provided for the delay was ‘unreasonable,’” the letter quoted. CHRAJ subsequently recommended disciplinary measures.
“CHRAJ accordingly recommended that Mr. Totobi Quakyi be reprimanded for his failure to comply with the law,” the petition added.
Asset declaration
Mr. Asare stressed that the declaration of assets is not optional but a constitutional requirement under Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution.
“The obligation to declare assets and liabilities is not merely a statutory requirement; it is a constitutional duty imposed under Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution,” he noted.
He further cited the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550), as reinforcing the duty.
Code of conduct
The Petitioner also recalled President Mahama’s own directive at the launch of the Code of Conduct for Political Appointees in May 2025.
He quoted the President as having stated that “all appointees who failed to declare their assets by Wednesday, 7th May 2025, would be automatically dismissed.”
Mr Asare argued that the CHRAJ findings represent a deviation from the standards set by the President.
“The findings… present a clear instance of non-compliance… as well as a deviation from the standards you set for public office holders,” he wrote.
Removal
While CHRAJ recommended a reprimand, Mr. Asare contended that such a sanction is insufficient given the seriousness of the breach.
“In these circumstances, it is respectfully submitted that a mere reprimand does not adequately reflect the gravity of the breach,” he said. He urged the President to consider stronger action, including dismissal.
“Taking further disciplinary action, including his removal from office,” he proposed, consistent with the President’s “publicly stated position” on automatic dismissal for non-compliance. Mr. Asare further referenced the President’s constitutional power to discipline political appointees.
“Under Article 297(a) of the Constitution, the power to appoint… includes the power to exercise disciplinary control… and to remove that person from office,” the letter stated.
He added that Mr. Totobi Quakyi “is a political appointee serving at your pleasure.” The petitioner further stressed the need for impartial enforcement of governance rules to maintain public trust.
“The credibility of our governance framework depends on the consistent and impartial enforcement of the law,” he wrote. Mr. Asare said he had attached a copy of the CHRAJ decision dated 13 February 2026 for the President’s reference.
Reprimand
The Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in a decision dated 13th February, 2026, has reprimanded the Board Chair of Ghana Gas National Ltd for failing to declare his assets prior to and within six months after assuming office.
In the decision of the Commission in the case brought by Wilberforce Asare against the State Corporation Board Chair, Mr. Gerald Kofi Totobi-Quakyi, numbered CHRAJ/HQ/2704/2025, the Respondent-Board Chair failed to declare his assets prior to and upon the assumption of his office as Board Chair of Ghana Gas contrary to Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550)
According to the Commission, on page 19 of the decision, “The Commission, however, finds the reasons for his failure to declare outside the statutory period unreasonable. This ordinarily ought to attract some punitive sanctions.
“We are of the view, however, that since the Respondent acted expeditiously to declare his assets when the complaint was brought to his attention and considering that there was no inordinate delay, the Respondent should only be reprimanded for this failure.”
Minded by legal obligations under the Constitution and Act 550 of repeated declaration, the Commission held as follows: “In addition to the reprimand, the Commission strongly advises the Respondent to pay particular attention to his obligation under Article 286 to ensure that the delay that occurred previously does not recur.”
Commendation
The Ombudsman seized the opportunity of the delivery of its decision to laud Mr. Wilberforce Asare in the following words: “We believe that this action is appropriate and proportionate in the circumstances.
“The Commission commended the Complainant for discharging his civic duty by helping to hold public officers accountable and to the Respondent for his cooperation.”
The decision of the Commission follows the mandamus application filed at the Registry of the General Jurisdiction of the High Court by Wilberforce Asare through his Lawyer, Eric Dawda Esq., seeking orders of the High Court directed at the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate Chief Executive Officers of COCOBOD, Minerals Commission and some Board Chairs of State Corporations.
