This week, reports from the office of Ombudsman indicated that the majority of the civil servants had complied with the 2006 Wealth Declaration Law that requires them to submit their assets and liabilities for verification by June 30.

The Ombudsman, whose office is charged with preventing and fighting injustice, corruption and related offences in public and private institutions announced that civil servants had complied with the law compared to the previously years.

It is commendable that Ombudsman’s office is registering such improvements and leaders are changing their attitudes towards wealth declaration.

The Ombudsman has complained several times that some leaders we not complying with the leadership law, that aims at strengthening the fight against corruption through increased accountability and transparency.

Leaders must realize that, as civil servants, they should always act exemplary to their electorate in promoting a culture of transparency in the society. By declaring their wealth, they are proving to the public they indeed stand for the truth.

There is no way we can talk about accountability or the rule of law when leaders who are supposed to enforce the law are the very people who violate it.

The compliance to the wealth declaration law comes at a time when the office of the Ombudsman is seeking more powers from parliament to allow the anti-graft body investigate and be able to prosecute corruption and injustice cases.

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