Former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo has called on Ghanaians to be patient as the government investigates financial irregularities linked to the National Cathedral project and other corruption allegations.

Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Monday, March 17 2025, Mr Domelevo, a former member of the Operations Recover All Loot (ORAL) team, defended the Attorney-General’s (AG) approach, stressing that due process must be followed to ensure accountability.

 “Some people are asking, ‘When are people going to be prosecuted? When are people going to be arrested?’ I think it is premature. People should understand that all we did was gather information. We have not even heard from the other side,” he said.

According to him, rushing legal proceedings without thorough audits and investigations could weaken cases in court, making it difficult to hold public officials accountable.

The role of the Auditor-General

Mr Domelevo urged the government to rely more on the Auditor-General’s constitutional powers, arguing that the authority to disallow and surcharge, as provided under Article 187 of the 1992 Constitution, offers a faster and more effective way to recover public funds.

 “If the government is serious about recovering the loot, then more attention should be given to the Auditor-General’s mandate.

The Auditor-General can disallow and surcharge, which is a neater, faster, and less costly process,” he explained.

He criticised the practice of engaging private audit firms and setting up commissions of inquiry, arguing that they have often failed to yield results.

 “Some are calling for a Commission of Inquiry into the financial issues, but you and I know that commissions over the years have not been very useful to the country. You remember Ghana@50? Other commissions? They release findings, a white paper is issued, and then nothing happens,” he remarked.

Concerns over ongoing investigations

On the recent invitation of National Cathedral board members by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), Mr Domelevo acknowledged that some aspects of the case involved possible criminal activity and required further scrutiny.

However, he maintained that investigations should be thorough and legally sound.

 “If the invitation is linked to the ORAL team’s work, then I believe some of the findings point to criminality. But Ghanaians must understand that these cases cannot be rushed unduly, or we will falter when we get to court,” he cautioned.

He also disclosed that the Attorney-General’s office has been engaging stakeholders on the best way to handle financial irregularities.

 “There have been discussions with the AG, and his line of thought is very much in sync with mine. He believes we should leverage audits to establish infractions before taking legal action,” he stated.

Mr Domelevo stressed the need for the government to empower the Auditor-General’s office to conduct forensic audits and enforce financial accountability.

He also urged the public to trust the legal process and allow the Attorney-General to carry out his work effectively.

 “The Attorney-General, the Auditor-General, and other institutions need space to do their work properly. If we want real accountability, we must follow the right steps,” he said.