President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has posited that former Auditor-General executed his job in allegiance to former President John Dramani Mahama and not to the nation.
In a 21-page open letter dated March 19, 2021, signed and issued by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo stated that events leading to the selection of Mr Domelevo for the role leave much to be desired as far as the motive of former President John Mahama who appointed him was concerned.
“…The former President had consulted the Council of State on appointing Dr Felix Kwame Aveh as Auditor-General. it is also clear that the consultation process was sone before the December 7 2016 elections.
Mr Domelevo was not the intended Auditor-General prior to the election of December 7 2016. Dr Felix Kwame Aveh was the Auditor-General that former President Mahama intended to appoint if he had won the election of December 7 2016. But he lost the election. Indeed, in notifying the Council of State of the reason why former President Mahama was seeking to replace Dr Aveh, the then Chief of Staff stated that “the change is as a result of some unforeseen developments.”
“It is fair to conclude that the unforeseen developments” was no other development but the painful loss of the election December 7 2016.
“After losing the election, it became necessary for former President Mahama to change his nomination for Auditor-General, with the sole aim of saddling the then-President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, with an Auditor General whose allegiance was to former President Mahama, instead of the nation,” the letter said.
The response comes after some civil society organisations took on the President accusing him of forcing Mr. Domelevo out.
But in the response to the claims, the President said the issues surrounding the retirement of the former Auditor-General were wrongly stated in the public.
The response added that it would be disingenuous for anybody to suggest that the President has been removing constitutional officeholders that he met in office.
Background
On March 3, 2021, President Akufo-Addo directed the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo to proceed on retirement.
This came less than 16 hours after he returned from a 167-day accumulated leave.
The directive, according to a statement signed by Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, stems from an indication by the Audit Service Board that Mr Domelevo has exceeded the eligible age to remain in the workforce.
“The attention of the President of the Republic has been drawn to records and documents made available to this Office by the Audit Service, that indicate that your date of birth is 1st June, 1960, and that in accordance with article 199 (1) of the Constitution, your date of retirement as Auditor-General was 1st June, 2020.”
The statement explained that “based on this information, the President is of the view that you have formally left office.”
Essentially, Johnson Akuamoa-Asiedu will continue to act in Mr Domelevo’s stead until a substantive appointment is made.
“The President thanks you for your service to the nation and wishes you the very best in your future endeavours,” the March 3 statement concluded.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com
