I discouraged my son from applying to Audit Service – Domelevo

Ghana’s Auditor-General, Mr Daniel Domelevo has revealed that he discouraged his son from applying for a job in the Ghana Audit Service since it risked putting him (Mr Demelevo) in a position of conflict of interest.

Mr Domelevo said even though there were vacancies and his son expressed interest in it, he knew it was a bad move and advised him to only apply for any position in the service after he has retired.

At a national dialogue on public accountability organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Domelovo said: “I talked about meritocracy, and let me say that for instance, when it comes to my profession, the auditor, there is the saying that the auditor should not only be independent but should be seen to be independent.

"Early this year, we were going to recruit some people to the Audit Service and my son, who is almost a chartered accountant with a Master’s, said: ‘Daddy, can I apply?’ I said: ‘To whom; you want to apply to me?’”

"He said: ‘But am I not a Ghanaian?’ I said: ‘Yes, you are a Ghanaian but you don't qualify because I am here; I can't employ you’.

“It's not fair but I explained to him: ‘You see, you may be qualified but if I bring you here, your future is damaged forever because everything he does people will not correct him, they won't teach him, you will not be the professional that you want to be given the society in which we are. So, wait, I will throw you outside there and then you will grow, when I leave in two years’ time, you can apply and then you come and they will give you the teaching that it takes’”.