The Chair of the Audit Service Board, Prof Edward Dua Agyeman, has said the institution is “fed up” with the penchant of on-leave Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo to “always” run to the media with issues.

“What’s this with Mr. Domelevo always running to the media; is he a baby?” he asked in an interview with Francis Abban on Accra-based Starr FM on Wednesday, 29 July 2020 concerning the change of locks to the office of the Auditor-General following the President’s directive to him to proceed on his 167-day accumulated leave.

“We are fed up with Domelevo always going to the media”, Prof Dua Agyeman fumed, adding: “He can go wherever he wants to”.

Explaining the reasoning behind the change of the locks, Prof Dua Agyeman said: “When Mr Domelevo left on the 1st of July, the Board felt there was the need to secure his office, so, the locks were changed and the keys were left where they belong”.

Meanwhile, AFROSAI-E, which is a regional organisation of Auditors-General from 26 English-speaking supreme audit institutions (SAIs), has written to President Nana Akufo-Addo to consider the adverse impact his forced leave directive to Ghana’s Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo risks having on good governance.

“I write to you on behalf of the Auditors-General of AFROSAI-E, to express our concern on hearing that the current Auditor-General of Ghana, Mr Daniel Domelevo, was compelled by the Office of the President, to go on immediate leave”, the letter said.

“We are deeply concerned about the grave repercussions of the infringement on the independence of the Auditor-General of Ghana”, the letter said, adding: “Effective SAIs enshrine principles of good governance and make a difference in the lives of citizens by contributing to accountability, transparency, integrity, staying relevant and leading by example”.

“To deliver these value and benefits, a SAI needs an enabling and conducive institutional framework. This includes independence as a primary requirement. We believe that since its establishment, SAI Ghana has made effective strides to institutionalised these values”.

Read the full letter below:

Mr. Nana Bediatuo Asante

Executive Secretary to the President

Office of the President

Jubilee House Accra

[email protected]

28July 2020

Dear Mr Asante,

AFROSAI-E CONCERNS REGARDING INDEPENDENCE OF THE AUDITOR-GENERAL OF GHANA

I write to you with great appreciation for the ongoing efforts of the Office of the President to implement principles of good governance in Ghana.

Ghana is a founding member of AFROSAI-E, which is a regional organisation with the Auditors-General from 26 English-speaking supreme audit institutions (SAIs) as members.

I write to you on behalf of the Auditors-General of AFROSAI-E, to express our concern on hearing that the current Auditor-General of Ghana, Mr Daniel Domelevo, was compelled by the Office of the President, to go on immediate leave.

We are deeply concerned about the grave repercussions of the infringement on the independence of the Auditor-General of Ghana. Effective SAIs enshrine principles of good governance and make a difference in the lives of citizens by contributing to accountability, transparency, integrity, staying relevant and leading by example.

To deliver these value and benefits, a SAI needs an enabling and conducive institutional framework. This includes independence as a primary requirement. We believe that since its establishment, SAI Ghana has made effective strides to institutionalised these values.

The United Nations General Assembly resolution A/66/209, recognises that supreme audit institutions {SAIs) can accomplish their tasks objectively and effectively only if they—the organisation, its members and officials—are independent of the audited entity and are protected against outside influence.

The resolution further encourages member states to continue to apply, in a manner consistent with their national institutional structures, the SAI independence principles let out in the Lima Declaration of Guidelines on Auditing Precepts of 1977 and the Mexico Declaration on Supreme Audit Institutions Independence of 2007.

Enclosed with this letter, is a copy of the UN Resolution A/66/209.

On behalf of the Auditors-General, we appeal to your Office to consider the ramifications that these actions will have on the effectiveness of the SAI and good governance in Ghana.

Especially now, with the severe global economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, strong national institutions that work for the betterment of the public service are essential. We rely on your esteemed understanding regarding this matter.

Yours sincerely