Former Auditor General Daniel Yao Domelevo has spoken out after the Supreme Court ruled that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s instruction for him to go on leave was illegal.
The Supreme Court declared his forced leave, coordinated by the Presidency, null and void.
A seven-member panel of the court ruled unanimously on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, that the President behaved unconstitutionally when he nominated an interim Auditor General while Domelevo was still in office.
The court’s verdict, however, was only declaratory, and no consequential orders were issued because Domelevo had retired from office.
Justice Nene Amegatcher presided over the seven-member panel, which included Justices Prof Ashie Kotey, Mariama Owusu, Lovelace Johnson, Gertrude Torkornoo, Prof Henrietta Mensah Bonsu, and Emmanuel Kulendi.
Domelevo, in response to the verdict, chastised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for breaking the law.
He expressed disappointment that the president, who boasts of being a human rights fighter, would violate the constitution with impunity.
In an interview on Citi TV, he said “Justice delayed is justice denied. The justices of the Supreme Court know better… From my point of view, it’s better late than never. So from today going, it will not be repeated on any constitutional body or any Auditor General, that is my happiness. I’m equally sad that the highest office of the land, the presidency, is at the forefront of not respecting the constitution of the country, I find it a bit disturbing. Even when I drew their attention, they told me I don’t appreciate the law. I am hoping that they will write to the Supreme Court and tell them that they have to go back for law classes since they have upheld the position that I was pushing forward. I think that the ruling was a very good one.”
Domelevo added: “I don’t have anything to say to him [Akufo-Addo], except to tell him that being a human rights lawyer, he should try and respect the laws of the country. The president should be the first person to respect the laws of the country so that private enterprises and individuals can also respect the rights of the citizenry. If the supreme law of the citizenry is violated, then it will be difficult for others to do the same. I will urge the president to respect the laws of the country instead of violating them.”
He said he’s sad the presidency is at the forefront of doing unconstitutional things in the country.
