The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations Against Corruption has commended the immediate past Auditor-General, Mr Daniel Domelevo, for his distinguished service to the country as Auditor-General.
Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, the Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement for Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD Ghana), Dr Kojo Asante, lauded Mr. Domelevo for discharging the responsibilities of his office with exceptional dedication.
Commenting on his forceful retirement, Dr Asante states that the facts and circumstances in their view gives credence to their belief that Mr Domelevo was targeted merely for pursuing his constitutional mandate.
Dr. Asante on Domelevo’s Achievements
Also. he intimated that, the powers of Surcharge and Disallowance, which were attached to the Office of the Auditor-General which had never been exercised, was activated during Mr Domelevo’s tenure.
“Through his diligence and commitment to protecting the public purse, Auditor-General Domelevo successfully recovered for the State tens of millions of Cedis in unauthorized spending or misappropriated funds.
“For instance, in 2018, the Office of the Auditor-General, leveraging its surcharge and disallowance powers. Successfully recovered a total of GH¢67.32 million into Government’s coffers.”
Dr. Asante
Furthermore, Dr Asante revealed that under Mr Domelevo’s leadership, the Office of the Auditor-General implemented an electronic data system. A sysytem to handle declarations made by public officers with respect to their assets and liabilities. as required of them by Chapter 24 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification).
Moreover, he said, through this initiative, the Office of the Auditor-General was able to generate and maintain an up-to-date database. Database of eligible public officers and to prompt them to make a declaration. This, he said, additionally simplified the process for declaring assets and disabilities.
Domelevo Deserves Commendation
Also, Dr Asante said while the legal regulatory framework for asset declaration of public officers still requires significant reform, Mr. Domelevo deserves commendation for this initiative.
He said under Mr Domelevo’s leadership, the Office of the Auditor-General consistently submitted audited public accounts to Parliament on time. As required by Article 187(5) of the 1992 Constitution.
However, the only time the discharge of this obligation delays according to Dr. Asante, was during the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana in 2020.
Additionally, Dr Asante posited that, this delay was also occasioned by the President’s directive to Mr Domelevo to proceed on leave. This was at a time when work on public accounts was still uncompleted in June 2020.
“Auditor-General Domelevo’s exemplary work has not gone unnoticed. The World Bank, in its 2020 Global Report titled ‘Enhancing Government Effectiveness and Transparency: The Fight Against Corruption’ (pp.308-310) signalled Ghana’s Auditor-General for praise for the positive impact of his work on public accountability efforts in Ghana.
Dr. Asante
“It is no surprise, therefore, that in 2019, Auditor-General Domelevo received an award for ‘Integrity Personality of the Year’ at the maiden Ghana Integrity Awards organized by the Ghana Integrity Initiative, the local chapter of Transparency International.”
CSOs Acknowledge Domelevo
Moreover, Dr. Asante said generally, the Coalition acknowledge Mr Domelevo’s sense of purpose, determination, discipline and exceptional sense of duty.
“There are few places within the public service that you can have a meeting that starts on time and ends on time. Mr Domelevo is always on time and when you are late, he will speak plainly about it. He has inspired all of us and we wish him well in his retirement.”
Dr. Asante
