Daniel Yao Domelevo, the former Auditor General has responded to the Supreme Court’s decision declaring his forced absence, which the Presidency organized, to be invalid.
In an interview, Mr. Domelevo criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for disobeying the law.
The presidency ordered Domelevo to take 169 working days of accumulated leave in 2020. The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that it was illegal for President Akufo-Addo to require Domelevo to take a lengthy leave of absence.
In the interview, Domelevo expressed his disappointment that the President, who takes great pride in being an advocate for human rights, would violate the constitution without repercussion.
“Justice delayed is not justice denied. The justices of the Supreme Court know better…From my point of view, it’s better late than never. So, from today going, it will not be repeated on any constitutional body or any Auditor General, that is my happiness. I’m equally sad that the highest office of the land, the presidency, is at the forefront of not respecting the constitution of the country, I find it a bit disturbing.
“Even when I drew their attention, they told me I don’t appreciate the law. I am hoping that they will write to the Supreme Court and tell them that they have to go back to law classes, since they have upheld the position that I was pushing forward. I think that the ruling was a very good one.”
Daniel Yao Domelevo
Akufo-Addo Should Respect The Laws Of The Country
Domelevo continued by saying that he had nothing else to say to Akufo-Addo, other than to remind him that as a human rights Attorney, he ought to make an effort to obey the law.
In order for private businesses and individuals to respect the rights of the populace, he claimed that the President should be the first to uphold the law. But he asserted that if the supreme law of the people were broken, it would be impossible for others to follow suit. As a result, he said, he would urge the President to uphold the law rather than break it.
The former Auditor General stated that he will not seek compensation from the President in any legal action against it.
He said he was pleased with the decision and that he had been cleared of all the false impressions some Ghanaians had about him.
“What type of redress? The battle is for the Lord’s, the most important thing is that the Supreme Court has spoken. And I’m happy they have done that. Many Ghanaians thought that there was something untoward that I had done, which the president said I should go on leave.
“Now that I feel vindicated, I don’t think I need any redress beyond that. Many people suggested, and I jokingly told them that I won’t, to get compensation from the taxpayers who did nothing to me. The president doesn’t pay tax, so I’m not interested in seeking redress.”
Daniel Yao Domelevo
Also following suit, Edem Senanu, the Co-Chair of the Citizens Movement against Corruption, one of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) stated that the court’s decision makes it very apparent to the executive branch of government that it cannot interfere with the operations of state institutions like the Audit Service.
“When there are independent institutions of state set up as a counterbalance and you begin to influence the decisions of their processes, that will not augur well for our democracy, so it is a win for Ghana in terms of the separation of powers and the balance of powers in order to make sure that this country can run well.”
Edem Senanu
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