Former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo has called for the abolition of the Audit Service Board, arguing that it undermines the independence of the Auditor-General.
Yao Domelevo, who was involved in a public dispute with the government leading up to President Akufo-Addo’s directive for him to go on leave in 2021, made these remarks at the 2024 Domelevo Accountability Lectures in Accra.
Mr. Domelevo asserted that the current structure, which grants the Audit Service Board the power to recruit personnel, compromises the independence of the Auditor-General. He explained, “The independence of the Auditor-General is not fully guaranteed if the power to recruit personnel is vested in the Audit Service Board.”
He elaborated on his position by highlighting the contradiction within the constitutional framework, stating, “read the constitution, you will see that the Auditor-General in the performance of his function is not under the direction and control of any other person. Now, the same Constitution constitutes a board and makes him a member of the board and says that it is the board that appoints staff. If they give you the staff, they can control you, they will give you chaff, hence the wrangling you heard about.”
Daniel Domelevo suggested that Ghana should consider a model similar to that of Sierra Leone, where the audit service act includes an advisory board rather than a controlling board. He noted, “in other jurisdictions, like Sierra Leone, they copied our law, their audit service act is almost word for word with that of Ghana, except that when they reached the board, made it advisory board to the Auditor-General and the Auditor-General is the chair.”
His call for reforms reflects ongoing concerns about the autonomy and effectiveness of the Auditor-General’s office in ensuring accountability and transparency within the government.
