The former Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo, has expressed his reservations about President Akufo-Addo’s creation of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to fight corruption and corruption-related offenses.
He underscored that creating several institutions does not necessarily translate into winning the fight against corruption in the country but rather a commitment from leadership, stating that “the buck stops with the President.”
In an interview with Kemenni Amanor on Hot Issues yesterday [Sunday March 17], the former Auditor-General proposed merging the OSP and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to strengthen the corruption fight.
“It is not the number of institutions that we have which will help us do the work. I find it also a bit even disturbing that anytime mister A is not able to do his work, we set up mister B. If mister B too is not able, we put in mister C, so we keep creating several institutions,” said Daniel Domelevo.
He maintained that institutions such as the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the EOCO, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and several financial intelligence units can be empowered to fight corruption in the country.
“We have several investigative and financial intelligence units and now we have the OSP. If it is not working, what else are we going to have? Are we going to continue building several institutions, or will we just strengthen the institutions on the ground, mandate them properly, and ensure that they deliver on their mandate?
“I am of the view that if there was a need for bringing in any other institution, we first look at the existing institution and see the missing link, whether it is the legislation, so those powers could be given to existing institutions,” he added.
The former Auditor-General also further stressed that creating several independent bodies, just like corruption, denies the citizens the benefit of public funds, indicating that authorities are “engaging in wasteful expenditure.”
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“So, if you are creating too many institutions which are not delivering, you are being wasteful,” he said, adding, “In fact, in South Africa, their law refers to it as wasteful and fruitless expenditure, so if you continue creating a fruitless and wasteful expenditure, it is as bad as corruption.”
This, he said, is because the public purse, which is supposed to be used to serve the public interest, is being used in such a manner.
Meanwhile, the former Auditor-General debunked claims of being overage and being due for retirement, as well as being born in Togo, hence not being a Ghanaian.
When asked whether he would accept a reappointment from former President John Mahama, in the event he wins the 2024 general elections, he said, “When we get to the river, we will cross it.”