The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamfi, has called on Ghanaians to speak against what he describes as an 'assault' on the independence of the Auditor-General by Justice Minister, Godfred Dame.

On Wednesday, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice issued a statement virtually directing the Auditor-General to unpublish a report on the audited transactions of the Government on Covid-19. According to the A-G, the publication of the Report on the website of the Auditor-General, was premature because it had not yet been scrutinised by parliament.

But in a statement on Friday, Sammy Gyamfi explained that Dame's reservations about the Auditor-General's report on COVID-19 expenditure is an interference which must be condemned by all and sundry.

According to him, per the laws of the country, the Auditor-General has the right to investigate any matter which he deems necessary.

Quoting portions of the Audit Service Act, he stressed that the Auditor-General is not subject to any external influences from any quarters.

He therefore called for Mr Dame's comments on the Auditor-General's report to be condemned by all.

"We also call on Civil Society Organisations, the media, moral society and all well-meaning Ghanaians to rise up and condemn this assault on the independence of the Auditor-General by the Attorney General", portions of the statement read.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding the Attorney-General withdraws the said letter against the publication of the Covid-19 report by the Auditor-General.

The opposition party believes the directive by the Attorney-General derails the fight against corruption.

On February 7, the Justice Minister described the report, which exposed widespread infractions by government agencies & ministries, as premature because it was published before Parliament had a chance to deliberate it.

But the NDC will have none of that and has condemned the move.

“We need not remind the Attorney-General that Article 187(7)(a) of the 1992 Constitution guarantees the independence of the Auditor-General. It explicitly provides that, the Auditor-General in the performance of his duties, is not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority,” the party said in a statement signed by its National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi.

https://www.myjoyonline.com/ndc-wants-attorney-general-to-withdraw-letter-to-auditor-general-against-covid-19-report/

The party also sees the development as an unwarranted interference in the work of the Auditor-General, citing its propensity to breed graft.