Addis Ababa — Some 5,000 government officials have so far registered their assets, the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) disclosed on Tuesday.

The registration undertaken with the assistance of the World Bank will oblige any appointee, elected person or public servant to disclose and register the assets under the ownership or possession of themselves and their family and sources of income of the familyThe law, however, exempts common property acquired through inheritance and held by the heirs for private use, household goods and personal effects, and pension benefits.

According to the commission, Ethiopia is one of the few countries who register the wealth of officials as part of the global efforts to combat corruption and other impropriety.

This is the first time for the Horn of Africa’s nation to register wealth of government officials including ministers. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was the first high ranking government official to register his assets.

The Ethiopian Parliament on March 30, 2010 endorsed the wealth registration proclamation which has been the pipeline for several years