Chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says the President’s decision to ask the Auditor General, Daniel Domelevo to take his accumulated leave is suspicious.

James Klutse Avedzi said the move can be seen as one aimed at preventing Mr Domelevo from investigating the Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Marfo.

Speaking on Joy Fm's Top Story, Mr Avedzi said “the leave could be because of what is happening between him and the Senior Minister on the contract between government and the Kroll and Associates.

“Asking him to go on leave is like you want to cover up,” he stated.

In October 2019, the Auditor General’s Department revealed that Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo led government to pay a private firm Kroll and Associates one million dollars for no work done.

Although the Mr Osafo Marfo has disputed the claims, the matter is still being investigated by the Auditor General's department.

Mr Avedzi accused government of asking Mr Domelevo to go one leave so that the investigations into the matter will be curtailed.

He then quizzed, “why is it that the President does not let Mr Domelevo ensure that the matter with the private firm is thoroughly concluded [before asking the AG to take his accumulated leave]?”

On Monday, June 29, President Akufo-Addo asked the Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo to take his accumulated leave.

Director of Communications at the Jubilee House in the statement said Mr Domelevo is expected to begin the leave on July 1, 2020.

“The President’s decision to direct Mr Domelevo to take his accumulated leave is based on sections 20 (1) and 31 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), which apply to workers, including public office holders such as the Auditor-General.

“According to the Act, a worker is entitled to annual leave with full pay, in a calendar year of continuous service which cannot be relinquished or forgone by the worker or the employer,” the statement said.

Mr Domelevo was further directed to hand over all matters relating to his office to the Deputy Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu until his return from his “well-deserved leave.”

But, the Ketu North MP said the handing over directive is also questionable since taking leave is not equivalent to resigning.

According to him, an assistant or associate can represent the Mr Domelevo in his absence but an official handing over letter is not required.

“You don’t have to prepare a full handing over note signed by the two sides [the one handing over and the one taking over] because the thing is someone has to work in your stead when you are not around,” he stressed.

Commending Mr Domelevo for his reply to President Akufo-Addo, Mr Avedzi said, the Auditor General has brought to light certain acts that can help the President reconsider his decision.

“I am happy he has responded and also that he did not challenge the president but made the effort to go on leave and also stated the facts so that we can all analyse and know what is right,” he said.