OccupyGhana has criticised the government’s latest meeting on strengthening the enforcement of findings in the Auditor-General’s reports, describing it as “another high-level talk shop” that risks producing little to no results.

In a statement issued on Monday, October 20, the pressure group acknowledged the meeting between the President, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General and the Auditor-General but stressed that Ghana does not need more discussions — it needs enforcement of existing laws.

“Ghana does not need more meetings, committees and communiqués. What is needed is simple: enforce the law,” the group stated.

The meeting, announced by the Spokesperson for the President and Minister of Government Communications, was aimed at designating special courts to handle cases arising from disallowances, surcharges and related offences. But OccupyGhana says such initiatives are not new and have repeatedly failed to yield tangible results.

The group reminded the public of its landmark legal action in 2016 that led to the Supreme Court of Ghana’s 2017 ruling compelling the Auditor-General to disallow unlawful expenditures and surcharge those responsible. The ruling also ordered the Attorney-General to enforce compliance through prosecutions.

According to OccupyGhana, these constitutional obligations have since been ignored.

“The Auditor-General has defied both the Constitution and the Supreme Court without consequence. The Attorney-General, whose office should have enforced surcharges or prosecuted for breaching mandatory orders, has remained silent,” the statement said.

The group cited earlier successes under former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo, during which GH¢67.3 million was recovered between June 2017 and November 2018, following 112 surcharge certificates. These actions, it said, made Ghana a model of active recovery and accountability in public finance.

However, since Mr Domelevo’s exit, no known disallowances or surcharges have been issued, and no funds recovered.

OccupyGhana also criticised the re-designation of special courts, pointing out that such courts already exist but have not delivered results. “The Chief Justice’s role in providing courts all over again will mean nothing if the Auditor-General and Attorney-General do not act,” the group added.

The group is demanding the immediate resumption of disallowance and surcharge actions by the Auditor-General, enforcement and prosecution by the Attorney-General, and sustained judicial support.

“Without enforcement, this new initiative will be yet another expensive charade. The time for talk is long past,” the statement concluded.