The former Auditor General, Daniel Yao Domelevo, says that corruption’s beneficiaries will fiercely resist and retaliate using all means available when attempts are made to tackle corruption.
His remark comes in response to a petition President Akufo-Addo forwarded to the Chief Justice, seeking the dismissal of Kissi Agyebeng as Special Prosecutor as submitted prior by former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu.
On April 30, 2024, former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu submitted a petition to President Akufo-Addo, which was later conveyed to Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo on May 6, 2024.
Martin Amidu’s petition raised concerns about the procurement process for vehicles for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and alleges misconduct by Mr Agyebeng related to judges and the administration of justice.
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In an interview on JoyNews’ which was monitored by The Accra Times on May 17, 2024, Mr. Domelevo said he had stated time and again that if one fights corruption, corruption will fight the person back using any means available, so it is not surprising that the OSP is facing an impeachment petition.
According to the former Auditor General, He finds it strange that the criticism is coming from Martin Amidu, whom Agyebeng succeeded as the Special Prosecutor.
When questioned about his description of Mr Amidu’s behaviour as corrupt, Mr Domelevo replied that it’s surprising for someone like Mr Amidu, who purports to be fighting corruption to actually file such a petition.
“You have no idea how corruption fights. Corruption is not going to fight using corrupt methods. It is going to pretend and use what looks like very genuine reasons, and I always say that there is the story behind a story, so the story behind the story is difficult for all of us to know, but what I am just trying to say is that to me, if you are in the public domain fighting people, others may also look for an opportunity to fight you back,” Domelovo stated.
He also expressed his shock at who filed the petition to get the OSP impeached, considering the posture of Martin Amidu in the public space.
“Where it’s coming from is what surprises me. You know Martin is my very good friend, but we have different values. And I would not participate in any form or shape in the removal of my successor from office. In fact, in his case, even I can say that he resigned. I don’t think Kissi Agyebeng played a role in it. I suspect the one who succeeded me had a role to play but I will not play any role as such,” Mr. Domelevo added.
According to Domelevo, the case is unusual for two reasons: firstly, because of who is behind the petition, and secondly, because it may confirm earlier suspicions that the move is motivated by a desire to undermine Kissi Agyebeng’s accomplishments as Special Prosecutor, which are perceived to be outshining those of his predecessor.
“You know at times, something you can do, but you leave it to other people to do it because, like Senanu is alluding to, it looks like because he is outshining him, so he wants to remove him out of office, which to me I will not allow such a situation to arise before people will impute those intentions into my actions,” he noted.
Regarding the procurement breaches alleged against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), and whether it serves the outcome of the impeachment petition, Domelevo noted that prosecuting authorities selectively enforce procurement laws, only applying them when it suits their interests. He pointed out that this bias is evident in the failure to address serious allegations against the presidency and the Electoral Commission, which have been ignored.
“The pattern is that they use the procurement offences only when it suits them. Didn’t we hear about procurement offences by the EC, the current EC and several others, even the presidency itself and how do they treat them? They are treated with kid gloves. It’s only when you are on the other side, you are not liked then they activate the procurement offence against you,” he ended.
