‘Are you a baby? We’re fed up with you’ – Audit service Board chair slams Domelevo
The Board Chairman of the Audit Service, Dr. Edward Duah Agyemang, has criticised the Auditor-General over what he says is his constant decision to run to the media with happenings in his office.
“What’s this with Mr. Domelevo always running to the media. Is he a baby? We are fed up with Domelevo always going to the media.
“He can go wherever he wants to. When Mr. Domelevo left on the 1st of July, the board felt there was the need to secure his office so the locks were changed and the keys were left where they belong,” Dr. Duah-Agyemang said.
On Tuesday, there were reports that the locks to the Office of the Auditor-General has been changed almost a month after he proceeded on a mandatory leave ordered by the Presidency.
Dr. Duah-Agyemang in an interview with Accra-based Starr FM on Wednesday said the board was fed up with Mr. Domelevo.
He justified the decision to change the locks, arguing the move was crucial since there was a need to protect documents in the office.
Unfortunate
But an anti-graft campaigner, Vitus Azeem, has described the board’s decision to change the office locks of Mr. Domelevo as unfortunate.
“The way and manner Mr. Domelevo was asked to proceed on leave showed they want him out of the way and they are having a field day.
“For them to change locks to Mr. Domelevo’s office is very unfortunate. I don’t think it’s the best approach and it’s a dent on the image of the A-G’s office,” he said.
President Nana Akufo-Addo directed Mr Domelevo to proceed on his accumulated mandatory leave as required by the labour law.
He was directed to go on leave after accumulating more than six months worth of rest.
Days after he began his leave, the locks to his office were changed.
Leave banter
Mr. Domelevo passed by his office on Tuesday, July 28, to pick up a document, while serving his compulsory 167 days leave.
But to his surprise, the locks to his office had been changed making it impossible for him to gain access.
“The key cannot even enter. It was flat like this and they have changed it to this one,” the Auditor-General said in a leaked video while attempting to open his office,” he said in an audio recording making rounds.
Mr. Domelevo had been engaged in a war of words over a directive from the Presidency for him to proceed on a four-month leave.
The Auditor-General had responded to the letter insisting that his previous leave entitlement had been forfeited and that he was only entitled to the 2020 leave.
But the Presidency in a response to Mr. Domelevo said he should add the 2020 leave to the accumulated one, bringing the total to 167.
The erstwhile Mahama administration appointed Mr Domelevo in December 2016.
Opinion on the government’s decision to compel the state’s chief auditor to proceed on leave has been divided.
Some 500 Civil Society Organization (CSOs) registered their displeasure over the president’s order.
They described the president’s action as inconsistent with the 1992 constitution and ‘gravely weakens the President’s fight against corruption and his standing in the eyes of the international community as someone committed to public accountability.’
But the government in response to their petition said it would not budge as the move was a legal one.
“The president encourages people to be citizens and not spectators, and therefore, your petition is welcome, and its contents have been duly noted.
“However, the position of the president as contained in the letter dated July 3, 2020, from this office to the Auditor General remains the same,” the Presidency said in a statement.
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Why the Board Chairman of the Audit Service, Dr. Edward Duah Agyemang did not inform the Auditor General, Mr. Domelevo before changing the locks?
The action of the Board Chairman of the Audit Service, Dr. Edward Duah Agyemang was a criminal one and unfortunate.
If the Board want to usurp the power of an independent AG they try every means to change the rules to put in a stooge.