(independantexpress.net)
Soon, senior figures, senior civil servants and other public officials will have to declare their assets and assets. This initiative aims, according to the authorities, to strengthen the various legislative and regulatory measures already taken in the context of the prevention and fight against corruption and to promote good governance.
The authorities will have to lead by example.
In November 2019, a bill was passed by the government to implement the measure. However, this law had always existed in the 1992 constitution (Article 145) but no decree setting the conditions for declarations had been established until now.
On Wednesday, January 01, 2020, the bill setting the conditions for the declaration of assets and assets was approved by parliament.
The adopted law defines the practical perimeters, the periodicity, the statute of limitations for offences related to or inherent in the declaration and declared property, the custodian bodies, the basis of the declaration, the deadlines and the procedure, the right to information and sanctions.
Apart from senior figures, senior officials and other public officials who are professionally exposed to the risk of corruption, it should be noted that the reporting requirement is extended to members of political party offices and media heads.
In the near by come, therefore, "The President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, members of the government, the President and the members of the Office of the National Assembly and the Senate, and the directors of central administrations and state-owned enterprises must make before the Supreme Court a declaration of their property and assets at the beginning and end of their term or function" in accordance with Article 145.
Nevertheless, questions arise. This law has been in place since 1992 and it is only today, more than twenty-nine years after the government passed a bill specifying the conditions for reporting assets and assets.
What explains such a sudden dedication to transparency in public administrations?
Some believe that this initiative by the Togolese government is a diversion. A measure taken to make a good international figure and to become a reforming country; Doing Business's ranking is a perfect example.
Despite this jubilation around a supposed improvement in the business climate, the economy remains in a gloomy state and the citizen sees no impact on his income.
Hopefully the authorities and senior officials will be able to declare their assets, to provide a justification for the source of huge amounts in their accounts.
I look forward to this measure failing.
As a reminder, a few years ago, the TOgolese Office of Revenue (OTR) in a press release invited its employees to declare their assets. But so far nothing has been done in this direction; or at least the press did not echo it.
Several laws have been passed in this country but have never been enforced. Let us hope that this bill will not extend the list since Togo is said to be breaking the record for voting and passing the most beautiful laws in the world, but remains the last country to respect them.
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