Former Auditor-General urges public sector workers to work without fear

Former Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo has advised public sector workers to avoid bending the rules to favour top officials engaged in corrupt acts.

Mr. Domelevo explained that public sector workers, including the Auditor-General should be mindful of the oath they took before the assumption of office and sacrifice for the country.

His comment was in response to a question of how supervisory powers in the public sector influence independent institutions mandated to fight corruption.

“As you are being subjected to all sorts of unfair treatments, allegations, manipulations from the highest office that you can think of, they are rather marketing you.

“The life of a professional goes beyond serving in the public service. Just do your work and do it well do not be too much afraid of the consequences.

“We may have to sacrifice for mother Ghana. If everybody says let me just protect and isolate myself from attacks and whatnot from the corrupt group and powers, then Ghana is not going to go anywhere,” he told Blessed Sogah on The Pulse on Monday.

He further criticised the institutional arrangement for internal auditors in the public sector.

In his view, the former A-G believes the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is under-resourced to allow it effectively carry out its mandate.

“Let me say that I admire the work that they [Public Accounts Committee] are doing…However, the time it takes before the PAC sits on the audit report is too long, because findings may take two years or more before they do it.

“I am aware that they were putting in measures to catch up. but they have not caught up. Why? Because they do not have funding. Most of their sittings are funded by donors…this is a core mandate of public financial management and there must be a budget for it to do their work and do it well.”

He said the political class and leaders should be held responsible for some corrupt acts since the public servants work under the supervision of the political class.

Source: Ghana News