The former Auditor-General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo, has spoken out against comparisons between his 2016 appointment and the controversy surrounding the mass revocation of appointments by the government following the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to Domelevo, critics are unfairly comparing his appointment to the recent appointments made by the NPP.
“They are, in effect, comparing apples and bananas,” he asserted in a post on Facebook.
Domelevo explained that Article 71 office holders, such as the Chief Justice, Auditor-General, and Electoral Commissioner, undergo a different recruitment process than other public servants. Their appointments are made without advertising the positions and are done in consultation with the Council of State.
He also highlighted that Article 71 office holders are sworn into office without a probation period, and their appointments take immediate effect and cannot be reversed.
“For instance, the Auditor-General, Electoral Commissioner, and judges of the Superior Courts can only be removed lawfully using the procedures outlined in Article 146 of the Constitution,” Domelevo noted.
In contrast, Domelevo pointed out that other public servants must follow distinct recruitment procedures, including advertising, shortlisting, and interviewing.
He also questioned whether the NPP’s recruitment process for the recent layoffs followed these standard procedures.
Domelevo posed several questions, including: “Were there actual vacancies, and if so, when did the vacancies occur? Were the individuals employed after the December 2024 elections qualified for their positions?”
He also wondered whether the institutions obtained the required financial clearance for the appointments.
The former Auditor-General emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency in the recruitment process.
“Public positions are open to all qualified Ghanaians. Therefore, if vacancies arise and proper procedures are followed to recruit individuals into the public service, regardless of their political party affiliations, they are entitled to the job if they meet the qualifications,” he stated.
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