Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister for information has addressed the issue of some 400 civil society members challenging the government’s decision in requesting the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo to go on an accumulated leave as a welcome gesture by government.
According to the Minster for information, in light of democracy these CSO’s are permitted to speak their mind on the matter and if need be take it up in court. He further advised them to jettison their bid in campaigning for the reversal of the leave directive.
He said, “no amount of debate between some of our good friends from the CSOs and from our side will resolve this difference in my opinion”.
“It is my understanding that they have hinted that they will be going to court to test their opinion… If indeed that is the case, then we may not need to have a campaign on the side while you are in court asking the court to make a decision on whether or not the opinion you hold is actually correct”.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
How did we get here?
On June 29, 2020, the President Akufo-Addo requested the Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo to proceed on a 132 days accumulated leave, generating a lot of backlash and discourse amongst the public.
A letter by Mr. Domelevo dated July 3, 2020, outlined a series of reasons why he believes the directive leaves much to be desired including what he described as bad faith on the part of the Presidency.
However, the presidency reacted to the letter days later by directing the Auditor-General to proceed on a 167-day accumulated leave, a 44-day extension of the leave days in accordance with sections 20 (1) and 31 of the Labour Act, 2003 (651).
According to the President, Mr. Domelevo had only taken a few days off work since he assumed office in December 2016.
This move generated some civil society organization jumping to the aid of the auditor-general contesting the president’s decision by describing it as inappropriate.
Meanwhile, at a press conference on Tuesday, the CSOs there is the likelihood of the matter being challenged in court.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah in an interview said, “it is welcoming to the extent that we have a democracy in which Civil Society Organizations believe that when an action of this nature, based on law is taken, they should be able to voice up and start a campaign to go on this line,” he said.
He criticized the CSOs over what he believes was their failure to speak out when the erstwhile government based on the same provisions asks someone to proceed on leave.
“This is not the first time that the Executive has applied this law, even with reference to the Audit Service in this manner. When the last one took place, we did not have Civil Society Organization groups have this opinion and proceed to start a campaign based on this opinion”.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
