Audit report faults Domelevo for failing to retire imprest
The Auditor-General, Daniel Domelovo, has been faulted in an Audit Service report for not properly accounting for monies spent on some foreign travels.
The report also faulted him for using public funds for a personal trip to Malawi.
“This was a five-day trip to Malawi, which cost GH¢18,427 in air travels, hotels and per diem of $930, fully funded by the Ghana Audit Service. The appointment letter of the Auditor-General, Mr. Domelevo, was not available to enable us to confirm the legitimacy of the payments,” the report, dated October 30, this year, said.
The Auditor-General who was instructed to proceed on leave last September was investigated by the board along with his six deputies.
In total the seven of them traveled 77 times within a period of three years spending GHC 3.3million.
The audit was conducted by K&A Accounting Services, a private firm appointed by the Audit Service Board.
It revealed that the Auditor-General and his six deputies spent GH¢3.3 million on foreign travels from January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2020.
Mr. Domelevo has said the board does not have any power to appoint a private firm to conduct the audit.
“I have no difficulty if auditors are appointed (at any time) in accordance with the Constitution to audit the accounts of the Office of the Auditor-General. It is of utmost importance that we obey the laws of this country and I will ensure compliance at all times,” he added
He has explained that only parliament has the authority to appoint an auditor to examine the accounts of the Office of the Auditor-General. He referred to Article 187 (15) of the 1992 Constitution.
Findings
Among some of the findings are personal travels of the Auditor–General and some of his deputies, funded by the Audit Service; the absence of a written policy on foreign travels for the Audit Service and the failure by top management to fully retire accountable imprests on foreign travels.
In one particular instance, the report cited Mr. Domelevo for traveling to Malawi for five days for personal reasons, with the cost of that trip being paid for by the Audit Service.
“This was a five-day trip to Malawi, which cost GH¢18,427 in air travels, hotels and per diem of $930, fully funded by the Ghana Audit Service. The appointment letter of the Auditor-General, Mr. Domelevo, was not available to enable us to confirm the legitimacy of the payments,” the report, dated October 30, this year, said.
It, however, does not make a comparison with what pertains in other organizations analogous to the Audit Service.
Recommendations
As part of its recommendations, the report said the Audit Service Board must ensure that the Auditor-General took action to correct the internal weaknesses of the service with regard to foreign travels.
“Additionally, the Audit Service Board should regulate management foreign travels with an approved policy to enable the service to obtain value for money on the trips, as some of the travels generate revenue for the service,” it added.
Response from CSOs
The Executive Director of Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Braimah has described the report as a lack of commitment in the fight against corruption.
“I think is just an act of corruption fighting back, we didn’t expect that corruption will not fight back”
According to him, it is a clear indication that there is no commitment to fighting corruption.
“If over 20 Civil Society Organisations are in support of Domelovo that this is a man we can trust to fight corruption then it should tell you he was doing something right,” he told CitiNews monitored by theghanareport.com.