Why Domelevo is demanding an apology from PAC to MoE accountant

The Board Chairman of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Daniel Yao Domelevo, has called on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to issue an apology to the District Accountant of the Ministry of Education in Donkokrom for unlawfully withholding the entire salary of a teacher.

Domelevo took exception to the PAC Chairperson, Abena Osei Asare’s reprimand of the accountant, stating that the accountant should have been commended instead, as his actions were both praiseworthy and the right decision.

'Stop right there!’ – Watch how PAC Chair Abena Osei-Asare chided MoE accountant during hearing

“I vehemently disagree with the PAC chair, Hon Abena Osei Asare when she chided the MoE Accountant from Donkorkrom instead of praising him. In my view, the accountant did the right thing,” he wrote on Facebook on August 26, 2025.

He explained that the accountant withheld the teacher’s salary because the teacher had validated his records to illegally receive double payment from the state.

“If the exchange between the Hon PAC chair and the accountant as report is correct, the teacher in question validated his own records in order to unlawfully receive additional salary. All that the Accountant 'did wrong' is to put embargo on the teacher’s salary in order to recover the unlawful payment. This action of the teacher may qualify for theft, fraud, embezzlement, misconduct or corruption,” he stated.

Domelevo, a former Auditor-General, added that the accountant’s action was done in accordance with the laws governing the Audit Service.

“The patriotic accountant who acted in accordance with Section 17 of the Audit Service Act 2000 was rather chastised instead praised by the PAC Chair because according to the Chair, Ghana's Financial Regulations limit the amount that can be recovered to 40%.

“… If even the accountant had breached any laws (which I doubt), at least his action was well intended. Some may wish to ask why 100% and not a fraction thereof. 100% because he unlawfully took the salary in advance and if he wants to rely on equity, he must come with clean hands - this teacher has dirty hands hence his misbehavior cannot be justified in law or policy. Hon PAC Chair, please come again,” he added.

Background

An earlier report on GhanaWeb indicated that the Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei-Asare, on August 22, 2025, reprimanded the District Accountant of the Ministry of Education in Donkokrom for unlawfully withholding the entire salary of a teacher.

The incident occurred during a PAC sitting probing financial infractions within the Education Ministry.

It was revealed that the accountant had instructed a bank to place a total embargo on the teacher’s salary, forwarding 100% of his earnings to the Ministry over alleged irregularities in his appointment.

When questioned, the accountant admitted to the action, claiming that it was based on an understanding with the teacher, who had suggested the embargo as a repayment method, with his admission, however, infuriating the PAC Chair.

She emphasised that the accountant’s action contravened Ghana’s financial regulations, which stipulate that not more than 40% of a person’s salary can be withheld under such circumstances.

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