The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) is unfazed by seeming public backlash that has met its investigation of officials of the Audit Service.

In a statement, EOCO said it “will not relent in its efforts in carrying out its mandate of investigation in accordance with the relevant laws of the land.”

The statement said EOCO is investigating the outspoken Auditor-General, Daniel Domelevo, his deputy, other officials of the Service and the Audit Service Board per a petition submitted to its office by a “citizen of Ghana.”

EOCO said impressions being created that its investigation against the celebrated Auditor-General is government-foiled and meant to remove Mr. Domelevo from office maliciously, are false.

EOCO also said impressions being created that it has no mandate to investigate the Auditor-General were misinformed.

21 civil society groups back Domelevo

Meanwhile, twenty-one highly profiled civil society groups including the local chapter of Transparency International, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) have backed the Auditor General.

The CSOs said although they do not oppose the investigation as no one is above the law, it is not the mandate of EOCO to carry out the investigation.

They noted per the laws establishing the Office of Special Prosecutor, the S.P. is the mandated person to do the investigation.

The twenty-one CSOs and the opposition NDC have also questioned the basis of the EOCO investigation.

The institutions cite the recent $1million surcharge of the Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo as the reason the Auditor General is being haunted through a state investigative institution.

They say the surcharge of the top government official may have invoked anger from high places against him.

The NDC has demanded the arrest and prosecution of the Senior Minister for the wrongful $1million payment he was surcharged for instead of the government’s witch-hunting of Mr. Domelevo.