By Former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo warns that efforts to combat corruption will inevitably provoke retaliation from its promoters, who will use any means necessary to fight back.
His comment follows a petition from President Akufo-Addo to the Chief Justice seeking the removal of Mr. Kissi Agyebeng as Special Prosecutor.
The petition, dated April 30, 2024, was originally sent to the President by former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu and forwarded to Justice Gertrude Torkornoo on May 6, 2024.
Mr. Amidu alleges procurement breaches in the purchase of vehicles for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and abuses involving judges and the administration of justice.
Other allegations include violations of citizens’ rights through arrests and detentions, breaches of the right to information, and improper appointments of personnel to the office.
Speaking to the JoyNews AM show on May 17, Mr. Domelevo said that “I have stated time and again that if you fight corruption, corruption will fight you back using any means available, so it is not a surprise to me at all.”
He is particularly surprised that the petition comes from Martin Amidu, whom Agyebeng succeeded as the Special Prosecutor.
When asked why he would describe Mr. Amidu’s actions as “corruption fighting corruption,” Mr. Domelevo responded firmly, stating that it is not surprising at all.
“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.”.
“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 role in it. I suspect the one who succeeded me had a role to play but I will not play any role as such.”
According to Domelevo, besides the oddity of the petitioner’s identity, the case may also support suspicions—previously suggested by some commentators—that the move was motivated by perceptions that current Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng is outshining his predecessor.
“You know at times, somethings 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 allegation of procurement breaches leveled against the OSP and its potential impact on the impeachment petition, Domelevo remarked that prosecuting authorities enforce procurement laws only when it suits their interests. He highlighted serious allegations against the presidency and the Electoral Commission that 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. I know that nobody is above the aw and everybody is supposed to go according to the law but then the selectiveness, the selectivity in using this procurement law is becoming one too many. Several huge procurement offences are known to all of us and are not being addressed but they pick on individuals who they think they should pick on and they talk about procurement offences. I’m not saying that that justifies the procurement offence if there is any…”
