The Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, says the failure of the Auditor-General to apply his constitutional powers of surcharge and disallowance show he is not fit to hold his office.

According to him, his failure to apply his powers to the maximum has created an accountability gap which is enabling the latitude of corruption the country is currently experiencing.

He stated that a coalition of Civil Society Organisations have demanded a meeting with the Auditor-General, next week, for him to explain his reluctance to apply the laws that were meant to empower him.

“I think individuals have to be held accountable for their own actions. The power is within the Auditor-General’s hands. We don’t think this is a matter that you have to even worry the President about.

“Yesterday, we also submitted a letter asking for a meeting next week, because there is no way if a public officer deliberately decides to ignore a constitution even after the Supreme Court decision then there has to be an accountability problem – and if that is the case then that person is not fit to hold that office,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile Saturday.

He added that “So we are saying we want a meeting next week to understand what this problem is. And we also know that over 10,000 people have not declared their assets and liabilities as is demanded by the constitution.

“All these processes and mechanisms are put in place to prevent corruption, to make sure there is value for money, to make sure that the monies that we’re contributing, our little monies, whether you’re at the market, you’re paying tolls, you’re doing this.

“In this year we said we’re going to raise as much as 80billion. Now if you’ve raised 80billion and then you waste it, you don’t even find ways to make sure that people do not steal from it then it’s like we’re wasting our time.”

He noted that should the Auditor General refuse to meet with the coalition they will resort to picketing outside his office till he either responds to their questions or resigns.

“So what we’re saying is that we want a meeting next week with him for him to explain to us why this is becoming a problem but the accountability culture has to start now, and if that doesn’t happen, we’ll go and picket. If we have to go to his office every afternoon so that we make noise enough for him to do his job – and if he’s not going to do his job then he has to leave for another person,” he said.