Let’s manage public funds with greater accountability – Domelevo
FORMER Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo, has called for greater accountability in managing public funds, emphasizing that the constitution, not theology, should govern financial practices in state projects.
Speaking on the ongoing National Cathedral controversy, Domelevo criticized the handling of public revenues by the project’s board of trustees, all of whom are clergy members.
“We don’t manage public funds with the Bible or theology; we manage public funds with the constitution,” Domelevo said during a forum on illicit financial flows organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa in Accra last Tuesday.
He added that laws such as the Public Procurement Act and the Internal Audit Act must guide financial oversight, not religious principles.
His remarks come in the wake of a damning report from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), which uncovered the mismanagement of GHC2.6 million in funds by the National Cathedral’s board of trustees. CHRAJ recommended a forensic audit by the Auditor-General and potential prosecution of those involved.
The National Cathedral project, initiated as a personal promise by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to honour God, has become a lightning rod for criticism. Despite being in its foundational phase, over GH₵50 million has already been spent, raising concerns about financial transparency and governance.
The CHRAJ investigation was triggered by a petition from North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who accused the board of corruption and abuse of power. Domelevo’s statements underscore the broader call for adherence to constitutional laws to safeguard public funds. “Men of God or not, the Bible cannot save you this time,” Domelevo remarked, urging the board to comply with the nation’s legal framework to restore trust in the management of the controversial project.
