Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, says the Attorney-General does not have the power to direct the Auditor-General on what to do.

According to him, the independence and autonomy of the Office of the Auditor-General are guaranteed in Article 187 of the 1992 constitution.

He was speaking concerning Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame’s advice to the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah-Asiedu, to unpublish his report on the Covid-19 expenditure pending the fulfilment of constitutional injunctions leading to the ultimate publication, including submitting the report first to Parliament.

According to the Attorney-General, the publication of the report ahead of its scrutiny by Parliament or a committee is unconstitutional and premature.

The Attorney-General’s comments have raised the ire of civil society organisations and Members of Parliament who argue Godfred Dame’s advice was tantamount to an interference in the work of the Auditor-General and a breach of the autonomy of that office.

But Deputy Attorney-General argues otherwise.

According to him, the Attorney General’s comment was merely advice and was not binding on the Auditor General.

The Attorney-General does not have the power to direct or control the Auditor General so if any publication has been made, at best what the Attorney-General could do, and which we have done is to offer advice. And you know an advice is not binding.

“You can look at article 187 of the constitution; you’ll get a situation where you look at the independence of the Auditor-General. So what the Attorney-General is seeking to do is not to direct or to control the Auditor-General to unpublish but solely to advice which we have done that’s why it’s not binding.,” he said.