The Auditor-General, Godfred Dame, in a letter to Johnson Akumoa-Asiedu said the publication of the report on the Audit Service’s website was “untimely and unconstitutional”.
According to him, as per Section 187(5) of the 1992 Constitution, the Auditor-General must submit his report to Parliament and in that report draw attention to any irregularities in the accounts audited.
He said that as per Article 187(6) of the Constitution, Parliament should discuss the Auditor-General’s report and appoint a committee to deal with any matter arising out of public interest and where necessary.
The Attorney General said that the Auditor General’s report will be submitted only after the completion of the constitutional requirements of submitting the auditor’s report to the Parliament, subsequent debate by the Parliament and the conclusion of the work of the appropriate committee of the Parliament. Considered as final, appropriate action will be taken.
“Consequently, I suggest you withdraw the Government’s COVID-19 transactions report from your website before it is debated in Parliament and considered by the appropriate committee of Parliament,” he said.
Mahama said the Attorney General’s letter to the Auditor General was clearly intended to silence him and create an environment conducive to the growth of corruption.
In a Twitter post, he said the government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was “not only apathetic in the fight against corruption” but “they are collaborators”.