The former Auditor General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo, has raised concerns over what he describes as the auctioning of public positions, warning that it could lead to unqualified individuals and criminals infiltrating the public sector.
Speaking at the inaugural Leadership Ethics Seminar organized by the Africa Ethics Institute in Ho in the Volta Region, Mr Domelevo emphasized the need for the country to adopt meritocracy for the recruitment of public servant to combat corruption and ensure the integrity of public services.
During his address at the seminar, Mr Domelevo also highlighted the alarming trend of individuals funding political parties in exchange for appointments in the public service, and expressed apprehension that such practices could compromise the quality of governance in the country as well as facilitate corruption.
“We are in an election year, which I term auction year. We are auctioning public offices. So the highest bidder wins the auction at the end of the day.
“If we don’t look at this auctioning of public offices seriously, what may happen is that, very soon we will have people who are drug pushers funding our election and so will compromise our integrity. It is also possible that terrorists will fund our politicians into office and we will be in trouble”.
Daniel Yaw Domelevo
Calls For Merit-Based System And Ethical Leadership
Advocating for the establishment of a merit-based system in the public sector, the former Auditor-General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo stressed that such an approach would help mitigate corruption and ensure that appointments are based on competence rather than political connections or financial contributions.
Mr Domelevo lamented the pervasive nature of corruption in the country and further likened the situation to a “religion” that has permeated various levels of society.
He urged the government to take immediate measures to combat the menace and further called for the implementation of robust public financial management systems and fiscal decentralization to safeguard the public purse.
Furthermore, the former Auditor-General, while calling for structural reforms within the country’s public system emphasized the need for the country to strengthen anti-corruption institutions, which he criticized as being too numerous and often ineffective in the discharge of their mandate.
He proposed reorganizing and retooling the various anti-graft institutions to enhance their efficiency in combating corruption in the country.
Mr Domelevo also proposed a “commercialized” approach to the fight against corruption, advocating for greater collaboration between whistleblowers and anti-corruption agencies in the country.
Moreover, Daniel Yaw Domelevo, the former Auditor-General called for strict enforcement of asset declaration laws and the implementation of lifestyle audits for public officers to deter corrupt practices in the country.
He particularly underscored the importance of holding leaders accountable for their actions, asserting that ethical and transformational leadership is essential for Ghana’s development.
“The fight against corruption requires a multifaceted approach, including stringent enforcement of laws, institutional reforms, and fostering a culture of accountability among our leaders”
Daniel Yaw Domelevo
The former Auditor-General concluded his remarks by urging all stakeholders to prioritize ethics and integrity in governance, stressing that only through concerted efforts would ensure that Ghana overcome the scourge of corruption and foster sustainable development.
The former Auditor General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo’s remarks at the Leadership Ethics Seminar underscore the urgent need for the country to embark on urgent reforms to combat corruption and promote ethical leadership as well.
His call for meritocracy in the public sector and stringent measures to hold leaders accountable, particularly reflects a growing consensus among many well-meaning Ghanaians on the need for the government to take decisive action to safeguard the country’s resources and ensure good governance.
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