Renowned anti-corruption crusader and former Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo, has criticised individuals involved in the recent exposure of GH¢8.1 billion in fraudulent arrears, calling for the immediate dismissal of complicit public officials.
Speaking on JoyFM’s Newsnight on Wednesday, 11th March 2026, Mr. Domelevo reacted to the chilling details presented to Parliament by the Ministry of Finance. He argued that the findings, which include recycled invoices and ghost debts, point to a deep-seated criminal intent to “manipulate records to steal money or conceal indebtedness.”
Reflecting on his own tenure, Mr. Domelevo noted that while the current findings are “annoying”, they are sadly not unprecedented. He reminded the public of his 2018 audit, which disallowed GH¢5.4 billion (approximately $1.1 billion at the time), but lamented that no significant consequences followed for the perpetrators.
“Nobody has been held accountable. Hence, people feel motivated to also try and if they are successful, they get away with it. Because there are no consequences for the misbehaviour, it keeps recurring,” he stated.
The statement presented to Parliament on 10th March by Deputy Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem revealed the scale of the verification exercise undertaken by the Ghana Audit Service alongside EY and PwC:
- The Scope: A staggering GH¢68.7 billion in unpaid certificates, invoices, and bank advices was scrutinised.
- The Rejection: The Auditor-General rejected approximately GH¢8.1 billion in claims identified as “fictitious” or “fraudulent”. This included GH¢89.4 million in ghost debts linked to the 1D1F initiative and over GH¢65 million in unsupported transport claims.
- The Approval: Only those claims that survived the rigorous “full verification” process were validated for future payment, subject to budgetary allocation.
The Domelevo Prescription: Suspension and Surcharge
Mr. Domelevo outlined a two-pronged approach to deal with the crisis:
- Administrative Action: He urged the President to immediately suspend any official, regardless of rank, responsible for processing illegitimate claims. “A committee can be set up… if one is found culpable, then they should be dismissed,” he advised.
- Legal and Civil Recovery: He highlighted that under Article 187(9) of the Constitution and Section 17 of the Audit Service Act (Act 584), those “surcharged” have 60 days to appeal in court. If they fail to do so, the debt matures, and the Attorney-General must take civil action to “recollect the money”.
Parliamentary oversight and the road ahead
Following the presentation of the report, Parliament has referred the matter to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for further public hearings.
However, Mr. Domelevo cautioned that the primary responsibility for stopping such fraud lies with the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“Parliament does not go down to go and do an audit on themselves,” he noted, calling for the strengthening of Internal Audit units as the first line of defence against the “systemic plunder” now facing the Attorney-General for prosecution.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
