Former Auditor-General and member of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee, Daniel Domelevo has called for proper checks on persons occupying public offices, emphasizing the need to curb the misuse of government resources and enforce consequences for misconduct.
Mr Domelevo while speaking to Joy News shortly after the committee chaired by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa presented its report to President John Dramani Mahama, expressed deep concern over the blatant abuse of power by officials entrusted with managing public funds and properties.
“What shocked me the most was the extreme abuse of public office, where you are the custodian of public funds and use it for yourself, or you are supposed to keep custody of government property and land, and you allocate it to yourself or your cronies,” he stated.
Domelevo lamented the lack of consequences for such misbehaviour, which he believes has fuelled a culture of impunity in governance.
However, he expressed cautious optimism about recent developments, particularly the president’s and his administration’s stance on accountability.
“The body language and the posturing of the president and his team, to me, is heartwarming. If not for anything at all, for the first time, we are going to see some seriousness on the ground, seriousness not by ourselves deciding that somebody is guilty of anything, but by providing information collected from the public. If the president carries out the next stage, which I find very critical, we will save good sums of money.”
He emphasized the need to end the misuse of public office for personal or political gain.
According to him, officials should not assume that their positions entitle them to appropriate public property for their benefit or that of their associates.
Domelevo also commended the president’s approach to tackling corruption, particularly his focus on not just addressing past government misdeeds, but also preventing future abuses.
“One thing that made me happy was the fact that the president didn’t only talk about ORAL, but OPAL Operation Prevent All Loots. Let’s try and find ways to mop up the leakages that have already happened, but we should prevent additional leakages.
“It’s not just about holding past governments accountable while we also engage in the same practices. So, to me, it is a good one. We hope to see action in the coming days.”
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