Former Auditor General Daniel Yaw Domelevo is sounding the alarm on corruption among public officials in Ghana, citing well-documented evidence of theft and misappropriation of public funds.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Domelevo emphasized that the issue goes beyond suspicion, pointing to the Auditor General’s report as proof of widespread corruption.
“We are not suspicious of them (public officials), but they have proven time and again that they have been stealing the public funds. That’s the part—the evidence abounds,” vociferous Domelevo said.
“Look at the Auditor General’s report. You see that people holding public funds have always been misappropriating or using the money for their benefits.”
Domelevo questioned how public officials can accumulate wealth far exceeding their official salaries, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability.
He also expressed frustration with the lack of consequences for non-compliance with asset declaration laws, even among high-ranking officials like judges.
“Many of them have been in office for just four years, a maximum of eight years, but see how filthy rich they are. They are terribly rich. And if you look at their salaries—I used to tell some of the MPs that as Auditor General, my salary is bigger than yours, but you seem to be 100 times richer than me. How did you make it?” he quizzed.
“The truth on the ground—not suspicion—is that they have been stealing public funds. That is why we want to know how much you had before coming into office and how much you had on your exit. I’m not saying all of them, but some clearly have been abusing their office.”
The former Auditor General recalled his own challenges in enforcing asset declaration laws, including resistance from the judiciary. He argued that the Constitution demands asset declaration before assuming office, yet this requirement is often ignored.
Domelevo’s concerns are echoed in his previous statements, where he emphasized the need for a lifestyle audit to curb corruption among public officials.
“Yes, I did have some interesting encounters with the enforcement of the law,” he noted.
“In fact, when we started, it was clear that even the judiciary—which we thought should be at the forefront of law enforcement—didn’t declare. Including the former Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah and several High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court judges, they were all not declaring.”
He has also advised public office holders to avoid involving family and friends in their duties, stressing that their work should advance the public agenda, not personal interests
