Member of Parliament for Old Tafo Constituency, Hon. Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has voiced strong disapproval of Auditor-General Mr. Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu’s decision to undertake what he describes as a politically motivated and premature payroll audit. In a strongly worded statement, the MP expressed concern over the timing and intent of the exercise, questioning the independence and credibility of the Audit Service under the current leadership.
According to Hon. Assafuah, the audit appears to be deliberately designed to target individuals appointed during the previous administration, particularly those perceived to be politically exposed. He argued that the process undermines fairness and due process, and risks creating further anxiety among public sector workers already unsettled by a wave of recent dismissals.
“It is with deep concern that I express my disappointment in the Auditor-General, Mr. Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, for agreeing to embark on a payroll audit that appears to be not only premature but also politically targeted,” he stated. “The timing and intent of this exercise raise fundamental questions about the independence and objectivity of the Audit Service under his leadership.”
Hon. Assafuah went on to suggest that the Auditor-General may have been pressured into authorizing the audit in a bid to protect his own position—an allegation that, if true, casts a serious cloud over the credibility of the entire process. “If this is true, then it casts a dark shadow over the integrity of the entire operation and calls into question the autonomy of an office that is meant to serve as a pillar of accountability, not as an accessory to political expediency,” he added.
He further pointed out that the initiative duplicates an existing payroll review mechanism instituted by the previous government. That framework already involves collaborative efforts between Internal Auditors, the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD), and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to identify and remove ghost names through monthly reviews.
“There is absolutely no justification for this parallel exercise which only wastes state resources, burdens the already stretched staff of the Audit Service, and sends the wrong signals to civil and public servants across the country,” he emphasized.
The MP also warned against allowing the audit to become a cover for political witch-hunting or a distraction from more urgent national issues such as economic instability, missing ECG containers, and ongoing concerns over alleged drug trafficking and money laundering.
Assafuah concluded by urging the Auditor-General to channel any payroll scrutiny through the regular 2024/2025 audit cycle, ensuring transparency, safeguarding the integrity of the Audit Service, and upholding public trust.
“The path of selective accountability is dangerous and must be resisted. We must protect our institutions from being used as tools for political convenience,” he cautioned.
