Ghanaian journalist, Wilberforce Asare, through his lawyer Eric Dawda, has filed a mandamus application at the General Jurisdiction Registry of the High Court, seeking an order compelling the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate alleged breaches of the asset declaration law by senior public officials.
The application invokes the supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court against CHRAJ, following what the applicant describes as the Commission’s failure to act on a formal complaint lodged before it.
According to the law platform, the, reliefs sought are directed at compelling CHRAJ to investigate certain Chief Executive Officers of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the Minerals Commission, as well as some Board Chairs of state-owned enterprises.
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According to court documents, Mr Asare has attached to his application a Right to Information (RTI) response from the Auditor-General’s Department, which allegedly shows that twelve Board Chairs and two Chief Executive Officers of state corporations failed to declare their assets prior to assuming office, contrary to constitutional and statutory requirements.
Asare alleges that CHRAJ failed in dispensing its duties after the human rights body failed to launch investigations into the failure of some public officers to declare their assets before taking office, upon his request on November 20, 2025
He avers, in a 15-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, that after receiving no action or feedback from the Commission on the complaint, he formally wrote to CHRAJ on December 11, 2025, drawing attention to the matter and demanding that the Ombudsman exercise its constitutional mandate.
However, the applicant maintains that CHRAJ has neither responded to his complaint nor the subsequent letter, and has also failed to commence investigations into the allegations filed with its registry.
The High Court is expected to consider whether CHRAJ has failed in the performance of a public duty and whether an order of mandamus should issue to compel the Commission to act.
Defaulting Public Officers
Per Exhibit 1 attached to the affidavit of the Applicant, the following persons have been confirmed by the Auditor General for failing to declare their assets before taking their appointment in the positions they serve:
Board Chairs
Richard Kwame Asante – MIIF
Prof. Joseph Oteng-Adjei – GNPC
Alhaji Huudu Yahaya Iddrisu – NPA
Franklin Mensah – GIIF
Dr. Joseph Nyarkotei Dorh – Ghana EXIM Bank
Ernest Thompson – Petroleum Commission
Nana Ansah Sasraku I – SSNIT
Kwaku Osafo-Buabeng – GIADEC
Hon. James Agalga – GACL
Hon. Bernard Ahiafor – SIC
Gerald Kofi Totobi Quakyi – Ghana Gas Company Limited
Chief Executives
Isaac Andrews Tandoh – CEO, Minerals Commission
D.r Ransford Anertey Abbey – CEO, Ghana Cocoa Board
Below is the mandamus application:
Compel CHRAJ to investigate Randy Abbey, Ahiafor & others for failing to declare assets – Wilberforce Asare files mandamus