The
Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has asked public officials to desist from
intimidating the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo over his audit reports.
According to him, they should stop attacking him over his
professional work.
The Auditor-General has come under intense criticism over the
publication of a performance audit of the GETFund scholarship administration.
Speaking to Citi FM, Martin Amidu said the political parties
should stop intimidating heads of anti-corruption agencies in the country but
rather allow them to do their professional work.
“The political divide is both fighting anti-corruption
agencies when they are doing their professional work you tag it with some
political things, you can’t fight corruption by politicising it, and the two
political parties will stop and allow the head of anti-corruption agencies to
do their work professionally with their staff.”
According to him, the intimidation will not allow the Auditor
General to perform his duty because he may now be selective in his auditing of
state institutions.
“For instance, Audit Service there is a provision for
surcharge if the Auditor General through the report of his staff can not
disagree with them and therefore supports their conclusion and surcharges you,
the law provides an avenue you can challenge it why personalised it to the
Auditor General, that’s intimidation and makes him incapable of performing the
anti-corruption duty…”
Auditor-General to surcharge
undeserving GETFund scholarship beneficiaries
The Auditor-General has hinted of plans to disallow and
surcharge undeserving GETfund scholarship beneficiaries.
A performance audit report of the Auditor-General on the
administration of scholarships by GETFund from 2012 to 2018 revealed that some
politicians, lecturers and media personalities benefitted from the scheme, a
policy meant for needy but brilliant students.
The Education Minister, Mathew Opoku Prempeh is listed as
studying National and International Security at Harvard University, receiving
$12,800 for living expenses and $11,200 as tuition fees.
Procurement Minister Sarah Adwoa Safo is also listed studying
at the Harvard Kennedy School enjoying $12,800 in allowances with $17,004 in
tuition fees.
Dr. Armah is studying Philosophy in Education at the
University of Aberdeen, which comes with a benefit of £38,400 for living
expenses in addition to £33,000 for tuition fees.
In the report, Auditor-General said they may disallow and
surcharged the individuals involved.
“The Auditor-General in accordance with article 187(7)(b)
will serve the GETFund with a notice of the intention to disallow items of
expenditure (the granting of scholarships) contrary to Section (2)(b) of of the
GETFund Act, 2000 (Act 581) and may proceed to surcharge.”
