Hold Public Officials Accountable to End Looting – Domelevo Urges

Former Auditor-General and member of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) committee, Daniel Domelevo, has emphasized the urgent need for stringent checks on public officials to curb the misuse of government resources and enforce accountability for misconduct.

Speaking in an interview after the ORAL committee, chaired by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, presented its report to President John Dramani Mahama, Domelevo expressed grave concerns over the abuse of power by those entrusted with public funds and properties.

“What shocked me the most was the extreme abuse of public office, where custodians of public funds or government properties misuse them for personal gain or allocate them to cronies,” he remarked, adding that the lack of consequences has created a culture of impunity in governance.

Despite this, Domelevo commended President Mahama’s administration for demonstrating a serious commitment to accountability. He highlighted the importance of initiatives like OPAL (Operation Prevent All Loots), which aims not only to recover lost resources but also to prevent future abuse.

“The president’s posture gives hope. For the first time, we might see actionable steps that save significant sums of money,” Domelevo stated, urging for sustained action to end the misuse of public offices for personal or political benefits.

He also called for a shift in governance culture, stressing that public officials should not feel entitled to public property simply by virtue of their positions. According to Domelevo, the combined focus on recovering past losses and preventing future leakages is a critical step toward restoring trust in governance.

“Let’s not just hold past governments accountable while repeating their mistakes. The key is sustained prevention and recovery efforts,” he concluded, expressing optimism for change if the necessary actions are taken.