An audit report has revealed that the Auditor General Daniel Domelevo and his six deputies spent GH¢3.3 million on foreign travels from January 2017 to June 30 this year.
The audit was conducted by K&A Accounting Services, a private firm appointed by the Audit Service Board.
The Board commissioned the exercise because it realized that the Auditor General travelled without seeking approval.
It also said the Auditor General did not account for the travels and the sources of funding.
Mr. Domelevo challenged the mandate of the board to appoint a private firm to conduct the audit.
He insists the move is in violation of Article 187(15) of the 1992 Constitution, which makes Parliament the sole body to appoint an Auditor to examine the accounts of the office of the Auditor General.
Among some of the findings are personal travels of the Auditor General and some of his deputies funded by the Audit Service, the absence of a written policy on foreign travel for the Audit Service and failure by top management to full retire accountable imprest on foreign travels.
In one particular instance the report cited Mr. Domelevo for traveling to Malawi for five days for personal reasons with the cost of that trip being paid for by the Audit Service.
This was a five-day trip to Malawi, which cost GH¢18,427 in air travels, hotels and per diem of $930 fully funded by the Audit Service.
According to the Auditor’s appointment letter of the Mr. Dumelevo was not available to enable them to confirm the legitimacy of the payment.
As part of its recommendation the report said the Audit Service Board must ensure that the Auditor General took action to correct the internal weaknesses of the service with regard to foreign travels.
