The Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo has debunked claims by the Ghana Audit Service Board that he owes about $4,020 from foreign travels in 2018.
He issued the disclaimer after a letter signed by the Chairman of the Audit Service Board, Professor Edward Dua Agyemang said its findings show that Mr. Domelevo did not account for an imprest of $4,020 aside from the total per-diem allowance of $1,641 he was given.
Mr. Domelovo noted in a counter statement that per Sections 2(3) and 7 of the Public Financial Management Act 2016 and Audit Service Regulations 2011 (CI 70), he is not answerable to the Audit Service Chairperson.
“Read Sections 2(3) and 7 of the Public Financial Management Act 2016 and you will realize that the mandate you and the Board purport to have under the Audit Service Regulations 2011 (Cl 70) is that of the Principal Spending Officer- hence I am not accountable to you.”
He also indicated that “not even a pesewa is outstanding against me for any advance or imprest that I took for any of my travels.”
He further questioned the authority with which Professor Edward Dua Agyemang is querying him. According to Domelevo, the Board’s mandate had expired.
“I also wonder why you still hold yourself as the Board Chairman after the expiration of the Board’s term of office on 16 October 2020 contrary to Section 5 of the Audi Service Act 2000(Act 584). Until you provide evidence of your reappointment in accordance with article 189(1) and section 5(1) of Act 584, I deem you to be acting ultra vires and will treat you as such.”
The Auditor-General who is currently on an extended leave said the request of the Audit Service is contemptuous of the court since the question about whether or not the audit the Board conducted was right is yet to be determined by the court.
