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The coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) filed an appeal to the Supreme Court on Monday challenging the presidential directive of June 29 for the Auditor General, Daniel Domelevo, to proceed with involuntary leave.
The President proceeded to appoint Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, an officer of the Audit Service, to act as Auditor General for the 167 business days that the Auditor General is supposed to be absent on compulsory leave.
The coalition includes the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), SEND Ghana, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the Ghana Citizens Movement, the African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), the Parliamentary Network Africa, Penplusbytes, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and One Ghana Movement.
On July 7 of this year, a coalition of CSOs called a press conference in response to the president’s action and issued an appeal to the president to rescind his directive to Mr. Domelevo.
CSOs expressed great concern about the constitutional and governance implications of the president’s action.
The International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) and the English-speaking section of the African Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E) also implored the president to reconsider his decision.
The coalition indicated in its press conference that it would consider taking legal action to defend the Constitution and the independence of the Auditor General if necessary.
“We expected the president to reconsider his decision in light of the deleterious effect of his action on public accountability and the fight against waste and corruption in the management of public finances. Unfortunately, that has not happened.
“Instead, certain events since the Auditor General was forced to leave his office have only made the situation worse, leaving us with no choice but to seek court intervention,” the coalition said in a press release Monday.
CSOs have the “hope that through legal action the independence of the Office of the Auditor General and all independent constitutional offices established under the Constitution of the Fourth Republic can be safeguarded so that they can fulfill their legal mandates effectively. without fear or favor, and thus they play their respective roles in our collective effort to build and strengthen the pillars of constitutionalism, checks and balances and accountability in Ghana. ”
