Auditor General, Daniel Domelevo has charged media houses to desist from tarnishing people’s reputation with the power they possess by being factual in their analysis.
His comment follows recent reportage by the Daily Guide newspaper, which he has accused of threatening to ‘strip him naked’.
Speaking at the 3rd Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu Memorial Lecture in Accra on Thursday, the Auditor-General reiterate previous assertions by Prof PLO Lumumba that, “the tragedy of Africa has to do with Africans being in the business of canonizing thieves and demonizing its saints”
According to him, while such reportage, especially by Daily Guide seeks to hinder the delivery of one’s duty and responsibility, he will continue to work with undiluted honesty.
“It is not just good that because you have the advantage of the media, you just go on denting other people or report unfounded allegations. It is not just right, you must be factual. You cannot tarnish people’s reputation just because you have the power to”.
Auditor General further warned the news outlet to desist from spreading lies about him, or face his wrath.
“I don’t know whether Daily Guide has finished striping me naked…tell Daily Guide that I’m still having my clothes on. They should tell me the time frame by which they’ll finish, and I’ll also start with them,” he said.
Background
The September 4 edition of the Daily Guide newspaper had an article suggesting that the Auditor-General has made some transactions in the name of the Audit Service without going through the proper procurement processes.
The article headlined “Auditor General Blows GH¢7.6m On Cars” suggested that Mr. Domelevo had spent an amount of GH¢7.6 million to purchase 27 vehicles for the Audit Service without going through the right tender processes.
According to the story, the vehicles comprised of five Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, one Toyota Land Cruiser V8, 21 Toyota IMV Hilux Deluxe and a Land Cruiser V8 valued at about GH¢529,805.
The article reported that Mr. Demelevo declined further probing when the paper called to hear his side of the story.
Although, Mr. Domelevo has come out to name his deputy as the one wo procured the vehicles, he has refused to not name the specific deputy.
Asked whether the governing board was aware of the purchases, he said by law the board does not have the mandate to get involve.
Explaining further, he said his deputy might have gone to the Central Tender Board for approval for the procurement of the vehicles.
Pressed further on allegations that the Entity Tender Committee of the Audit Service approved the purchases, he declined further comments on the matter.
