Former Auditor General and member of the operation recover all loot (ORAL) Daniel Yao Domelevo has urged President John Dramani Mahama to address critical issues within Ghana’s anti-corruption framework, particularly the Internal Audit Law, if he is serious about combating corruption.
Domelevo expressed concern over systemic loopholes and the lack of independence for internal auditors, which undermine efforts to hold public officials accountable.
“The problem we have in this country is that the person who is supposed to protect the public interest is often the abuser. Why do we declare assets only on paper without verification, publication, or penalties for non-compliance? It beats my imagination.”
Speaking in a one on one interview with joynews Domelevo stated the importance of strengthening internal audit systems, emphasizing that internal auditors are often the first line of defense against financial malpractices in public institutions.
However, their effectiveness is compromised because they lack independence.
“The one who fixes their salary, approves their promotion, or decides their transfer is often the same person they are supposed to monitor. This creates a culture of fear and compliance,” he explained.
He advocated for legislative reforms that would place internal auditors under the authority of a Director General of the Internal Audit Agency, ensuring they are insulated from the influence of the spending institutions they are tasked with auditing.
“This will make them as bold as external auditors because their independence will no longer be compromised,” Domelevo added.
“When I was Auditor General, a lot of my intel came from internal auditors. Many of them would draft reports and face pushback to exclude key findings. Some would secretly share their original reports with me, and I would verify the issues during audits,” he recounted.
Domelevo stressed that the root problem lies in the system’s failure to protect their independence. “If we fix this, internal auditors will become instrumental in curbing corruption at the institutional level,” he said.
Domelevo reminded the public of President Mahama’s campaign promise to fight corruption, urging him to prioritize reforms in the Internal Audit Law and other anti-corruption mechanisms.
“It’s also in their manifesto. If he’s serious about fighting corruption, then fixing the Internal Audit Law is non-negotiable. These auditors are like physicians they identify the problem early before external auditors step in after the damage has been done,” he emphasized.
He criticized the lack of enforcement in asset declaration laws and called for public accountability measures that go beyond mere documentation. “The laws we have should make sense. They should have teeth.
Without verification, penalties, and publication, asset declarations are meaningless,” he concluded
President Mahama should fix the Internal Audit Law if he’s serious about fighting corruption – Daniel Domelevo.#UPfront pic.twitter.com/sKqCEahSpJ
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) January 16, 2025
