CHRAJ clears MIIF’s Board Chairman in assets declaration case
Ghana’s Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has dismissed a complaint alleging that the Board Chairman of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Richard Kwame Asante, failed to declare his assets in accordance with the Constitution.
In a decision dated 24 February 2026, CHRAJ ruled that Mr Asante complied with the asset’s declaration requirements under Article 286 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550).
The complaint, filed in November 2025 by journalist Wilberforce Asare, alleged that was MIIF’s Board Chairman among several public office holders who had not submitted their assets and liabilities declarations as required by law.
The petition relied on information obtained from the Auditor-General through a Right to Information (RTI) request.
However, after reviewing evidence from the Ghana Audit Service, CHRAJ found that Mr Asante had declared his assets on 11 November 2025, nine days before the complaint was lodged.
According to CHRAJ’s findings, Mr Asante was appointed and sworn in as MIIF Board Chairman on June 3, 2025. Under Section 1(4) of Act 550, public office holders must declare their assets before taking office or within six months of assuming office.
The Commission determined that the statutory deadline for Mr Asante to file his declaration would have been December 2, 2025 — six months after his appointment.
His submission on November 11, 2025 was therefore within the legally permitted timeframe.
“The Respondent has complied with the constitutional and statutory provisions on assets declaration,” CHRAJ stated in its ruling, adding that the complaint was “unmeritorious” and lacked merit.
Legal threshold
In its analysis, CHRAJ referenced its earlier jurisprudence on assets declaration cases, noting that failure to declare must be “without reasonable excuse” or constitute outright non-submission and amount to a punishable breach.
The Commission emphasised that the law anticipates situations where declarations may be made within the six-month grace period allowed after assumption of office.
Since Mr Asante’s declaration fell within that period, no contravention had occurred.
CHRAJ further noted that as on the date the complaint was filed, there was no existing breach to investigate or sanction.
In its final decision, signed by Commissioner Dr Joseph Whittal, CHRAJ dismissed the complaint in its entirety and commended Mr Asante for his cooperation during the investigation.
The ruling effectively clears the MIIF Board Chairman of allegations of non-compliance and affirms that he met the constitutional requirements governing assets declaration for public office holders in Ghana.