ASEPA petitions President Mahama for removal of Auditor General from office
The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) has officially petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to initiate the constitutional process under Article 187(13) of the 1992 Constitution to remove the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, from office. The petition was submitted on Thursday, April 3, at the Jubilee House in Accra, citing serious allegations of misconduct, high crimes, abuse of office, and violations of the Constitution.
In its statement accompanying the petition, ASEPA outlined multiple charges against Mr. Asiedu, claiming to have substantial evidence to support these accusations. Among the key allegations are his failure to comply with a Supreme Court directive, which ASEPA argues constitutes a high crime under Article 2(4) of the Constitution. The group insists that disregarding the Supreme Court’s orders is a direct violation of constitutional principles and cannot be overlooked.
Another accusation against the Auditor-General is his alleged collaboration with the Audit Service Board to usurp the powers of Parliament, thereby breaching Article 187(15) of the Constitution. ASEPA contends that this action undermines parliamentary authority and threatens democratic governance. Additionally, the petition accuses Mr. Asiedu of unlawfully retaining public funds, which is said to be a violation of Section 17(2) of the Audit Service Act. The organization argues that such an act not only breaches legal provisions but also erodes public trust in the Auditor-General’s office.
ASEPA further alleges that Mr. Asiedu has abused his discretionary powers and engaged in a cover-up, in violation of Article 296 of the Constitution. The group emphasizes that such conduct is unacceptable and must be addressed through proper constitutional procedures. According to ASEPA, the removal process for the Auditor-General should follow the same constitutional procedures as those applied in the removal of a Chief Justice under Article 146.
The petition, signed by ASEPA’s Executive Director, Mensah Thompson, asserts confidence that the process will be conducted in a transparent and lawful manner. Mr. Thompson stressed that accountability must be upheld to preserve the integrity of public institutions and ensure justice is served.
Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu’s tenure has been controversial, particularly following his contract extension by former President Akufo-Addo in June 2024, just before his scheduled retirement on August 1, 2024. He was initially appointed as the substantive Auditor-General in September 2021, after serving in an acting capacity following the contentious retirement of his predecessor, Daniel Yaw Domelevo.
The petition marks a significant step in efforts to remove the Auditor-General, as ASEPA calls for constitutional mechanisms to ensure accountability. The organization believes that adherence to due process is critical in addressing alleged misconduct at the highest levels of public office.
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