Withholding audit information or underreporting on COVID-19 fumigation is a serious offence – Domelevo

Former Auditor-General Daniel Domelovo has warned that withholding information or underreporting COVID-19 fumigation costs constitutes a serious offence. His remarks come after an investigation by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni revealed that the government spent a staggering GH¢720 million on COVID-19 fumigation, whereas the special audit conducted by the Auditor-General only accounted for GH¢96 million.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News, Domelovo emphasized that government entities are legally obligated to provide the Auditor-General with the required information. He stated that if the ministry fails to disclose the information, it would be considered a serious offence. Furthermore, if the audit was not conducted properly, it would also be deemed a serious professional misconduct. Both scenarios would be viewed as severe violations.

Domelovo described the discrepancy between the audit's findings and the expenditure identified by the investigation as "very disturbing," especially if the latter figure is accurate. He expressed hope that the reported figure by Awuni is incorrect. However, if the figure is indeed correct, he believes the Auditor-General should have an explanation to offer.

To determine whether information was withheld or the expenditure was improperly reported, Domelovo stated that the circumstances surrounding the audit must be clarified. The special audit, conducted in 2022, was initiated in response to a request from then Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to investigate COVID-19 expenditure by ministries, departments, and agencies between 2020 and June 2022.

The investigation focused on the Ministries of Education, Transport, and Local Government and uncovered evidence suggesting that fumigation costs were significantly higher than the GH¢96 million recorded in the special audit.