Freelance investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has congratulated Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo on his winning the maiden Ghana Integrity Initiative’s Integrity Personality of the Year Award, advising him to continue to be resolute since fighting corruption comes with “demonic” attacks or persecution.

The Integrity Awards are awarded by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local chapter of Transparency International, in recognition of persons and institutions engaged in anti-corruption crusades and advocacy.

Mr Domelevo’s win comes as no surprise to many individuals and institutions that have praised his fight against graft when he became Auditor General.

But highly influential New Patriotic Party (NPP) member and cousin of President Akufo-Addo has argued that Mr Domelevo has been assessed with a lowered standard. This has however been rejected by Manasseh Azure Awuni, who has stressed that until Mr Domelevo took over office as Auditor General, the Audit Service was ineffective, and dared not take on the powerful in society who were implicated in alleged corruption.

“Daniel Yaw Domelevo truly deserves the GII’s Integrity Personality of the Year award. With him in charge, the Audit Service remains the only public institution that is making real impact in the fight against corruption. I disagree with Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko’s assertion that the bar of measurement for Mr. Domelevo’s recognition is low. Until Domelevo took over, the Audit Service was just like any of the moribund state institutions which would not dare challenge the powerful.

Congratulations to Mr. Domelevo and the staff of the Audit Service. Don’t be daunted by the persecution. You cannot fight corruption without such “demonic” attacks,” Mr Awuni stated on social media.

Mr Domelevo, who has surcharged the Senior Minister over a contract he authorized, has complained about how impediments being put in his way as he executes his mandate as Auditor General.