A former Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo says he does not regret his time in office.
He says he could not resist the opportunity to serve his motherland in that capacity.
According to him, it was a privilege for him to have been offered such an opportunity to help protect the public purse.
“So when the opportunity came for me to serve my country, I thought it was a great privilege. So I have no regret serving Ghana as the auditor-General even though the conditions and service of my previous job was better,” he told Raymond Acquah on JoyNews’s Upfront programme on Wednesday, May 31.
In an earlier interview with Citi TV, Mr. Domelevo slammed President Akufo-Addo for disrespecting the law. when the president forced him out of office.
“Justice delayed is justice denied. The justices of the Supreme Court know better… From my point of view, it’s better late than never. So from today going, it will not be repeated on any constitutional body or any Auditor General, that is my happiness.”
“I’m equally sad that the highest office of the land, the presidency, is at the forefront of not respecting the constitution of the country, I find it a bit disturbing. Even when I drew their attention, they told me I don’t appreciate the law. I am hoping that they will write to the Supreme Court and tell them that they have to go back for law classes since they have upheld the position that I was pushing forward. I think that the ruling was a very good one,” he said.
The Supreme Court in a unanimous decision on Wednesday described as unconstitutional the directive from the Presidency that asked Domelevo to proceed on leave.
The Court also described as unconstitutional, the President’s appointment of an Acting Auditor-General while there was a substantive Auditor-General.
The Presidency in July 2020 asked the then Auditor General to proceed on leave.
When Mr Domelevo pointed this out as unlawful, his leave was further extended from 123 days to 167 effective July 1, 2020.
Nine civil society groups sued the Attorney General over these directives.
They included the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Ghana Integrity Initiative, (GII), Citizen Movement Ghana, Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), and Parliamentary Network Africa.
They contended that the directives were unlawful since the President did not have the power to exercise such disciplinary control over independent bodies.
The Court, however, opted not to issue any other orders including stopping Mr Domelevo from proceeding on leave since he has already retired.
The case was heard by Justices Nene Amegatcher, Prof Ashie Kotey, Mariama Owusu, Lovelace Johnson, Getrude Torkonoo, Prof Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu and Emmanuel Kulendi.
Source: Ghana News
