The leading opposition party, National Democratic Congress and Minority in Parliament has yet again hit hard on H.E President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s directives given to the Auditor General to proceed on leave. Hinting that, the Auditor General must provide the 2019 financial audited report to parliament, even though he is on leave.
The Member of Parliament for Tamale South and the Minority Leader in Parliament Haruna Iddrisu, at a press conference in Accra called on the Auditor General to submit to parliament and subsequently publish the reports on the audited accounts of Government for the 2019 financial year, revealing that, the reports is 3 months late.
This request, he stated is in accordance with the constitution Article 1875 and the audit service act, Act 584. The Minority in Parliament has called on the President to see to the publishing of the said report.
As contradicting as the call on the President may sound, the minority in parliament opined that the call on the President to oversee the publishing of the report is due to his interference in the office, even though the President was duly aware of the separation of powers surrounding the Auditor’s office.
The Minority Leader iterated that the report of the 2018 financial year was submitted within the statutory time by the Auditor General. Yet, the 2019 financial report has not been released due to the Auditor General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo’s mandatory 123 days leave.
According to the minority, the delay of the 2019 auditor report could be due to government covering up to avoid potential embarrassment of what could be revealed in the audited account for 2019. This, the minority said, could have a great impact on the result of the New Patriotic Party in the December 7 elections. Therefore, predicted, it is a deliberate delay by government in submitting the report.
“It ought to note that the Auditor General is enjoined to draw the attention of parliament to instances where public monies are not publicly accounted for or, where there is deficiency through fraud, default or mistake by any person and that resources are used with due regard to the good of our economy and the public good of Ghana.
“It is the view of the minority that, the unadvised decision of the President in directing the Auditor General to proceed on his accumulated leave, was not just intended to guard the Auditor General, in drawing attention to many of these anomalies perpetuated by officials in government and public officials.”
However, the Deputy Auditor General Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, has been appointed to act as an Auditor General in the absence of the Mr. Daniel Yaw Domelevo.
The Minority caucus pledged that, if the NDC Flagbearer is elected into power, they will uphold the principles and laws to shine the lights on wrongdoing and financial malfeasance by not interfering in the Auditor General’s office.
It can be recalled that on 3rd July, 2020 a statement was issued by the Auditor General announcing that he was going on leave as directed.
However, Mr. Domelevo who appeared to be rolling up his sleeves for a battle implored the President to reconsider his directive asking him to take his accumulated leave in the interest of what he describes as “sanctity of the labour law, the constitution and the independence of the Auditor General”.
Since his appointment on December 30, 2016, Mr. Domelevo had taken only nine days of his annual 132 leave days.
The president’s decision according to a statement from Jubilee House was based on sections 20(1) and 31 of the Labour Act, 2003(Act 651).
