Akufo-Addo Confirms “Puppet” Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu As Auditor General

President Akufo-Addo has finally replaced celebrated former Auditor-General (A-G), Daniel Yaw Domelevo, by confirming Johnson Akuamoah, the controversial deputy of Domelevo as substantive A-G.

Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu who had been criticised as a stooge of the Jubilee House has been in an Acting position since June 1, 2021, when President Akufo Addo dubiously gave Domelevo the boot when he was closing in on the questionable payment of some US$ 1 million made by former Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Maafo to British company Kroll and Associates. 

Akuamoah’s confirmation as substantive A-G is contained in September 7, 2021 letter from the Presidency.

“I have the honour to inform you that, in consultation with the Council of State, His Excellency the President has appointed you as the Auditor General with effect from 27th August 2021. Your duties as spelt out in Article 187 (2) (5) of the 1992 constitution you will be responsible to Parliament in the discharge of your duties,” read the letter signed by Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.

The appointment will not surprise Ghanaians because President Akufo-Addo had indicated in August that he would make Asiedu substantive AG. Even before the President’s dubious claims when he indicated that he thought Asiedu was a more resourceful AG than Domelevo, the confirmation was expected.

Akuamoah Asiedu, in contrast to Domelevo’s fearless anti-corruption stance, is seen as a puppet of the government.

Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu is beholden to the Chairman of the Audit Service Board, Prof. Edward Duah Agyemang, who helped Asiedu to gain employment in the Audit Service during the Kufuor government.

He has been character-sketched by Audit Service staff as dubious, insincere and lazy with a group of anonymous staff of the service writing to President Akufo-Addo in 2020 not to promote him to Acting AG.

His appointment is seen as the government’s reward to him for quickly getting the surcharge that Domelevo had demanded of Osafo Maafo over the dubious Kroll and Associates payment dropped after the President had forced Domelevo to mandatorily take an accumulated leave so he could be removed from the case.

Meanwhile, while in office, Domelevo had been fought tooth and nail by Johnson Akuamoah Addo’s godfather at the Audit Service, Edward Duah Agyemang.

Professor Agyemang who had been accused by Domelevo of interference and shady behaviour, including leakage of audit reports to audited persons and entities, when Domelevo was AG, will now have freehand to control the Audit Service as Domelevo warned.