South Dayi MP and Majority Chief Whip Rockson‑Nelson Dafeamekpor has demanded that authorities arrest those responsible if the Auditor‑General’s COVID‑19 expenditure audit is found to conceal material findings. He made the call after investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni revealed that the audit’s reported GH¢96 million for fumigation does not match the hundreds of millions spent by ministries, notably GH¢299 million by the Ministry of Local Government on three contracts that were omitted from the audit figure.
The Ghana Audit Service confirmed that the expenditure was audited but has not explained why it was left out of the report submitted to Parliament. Dafeamekpor said the Auditor‑General is legally bound to disclose all findings to Parliament and that concealment would breach Section 16 of the Constitution.
“If what Manasseh Azure Awuni is further revealing is what is actually the case, then arguably we have the greatest public finance scandal of maybe the Fourth Republic,” Dafeamekpor told Joy News’ PM Express. He added that the evidence suggests the audit was conducted but key findings and recommendations were omitted, potentially leading to legislative reforms.
Former Auditor‑General Daniel Domelevo has also called for an explanation, warning that either information was withheld from auditors or the audit was not properly conducted. Dafeamekpor said he is considering a formal statement but insists the allegations must be acted upon immediately if proven true.
Observers say the controversy centers on a special audit commissioned in 2022 that reportedly understated fumigation spending across several ministries. The MP’s call for arrests underscores the seriousness with which the Ghanaian Parliament is treating the alleged financial mismanagement.
