By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, July 02, GNA – Dr Pamela Graham has been sworn-in as the 11th Auditor-General of Ghana and the first female to occupy the Office by President John Dramani Mahama.
The new Auditor-General in her remarks noted that she was committed to working constructively and also upholding the objectivity that this role demands.
She expressed gratitude to the President for the confidence reposed in her to serve the nation and that she would serve with diligence, with fairness, and with integrity.
Dr Graham made the remarks after her formal inauguration as Auditor-General by the President at the Presidency in Accra.
Dr Graham said as a teenager, she wanted to be an auditor so bad, and she did become one, but to be the Auditor-General of the Republic of Ghana, that was not part of the dream.
“So today, I am filled with humility, gratitude, and a solemn awareness of the vast responsibility entrusted to me by his Excellency, the President John Dramani Mahama, to serve as Auditor-General of the Republic of Ghana in accordance with the provisions of our Constitution,” Dr Graham stated.
“As the first woman to occupy the Sacred Constitutional Office, I am particularly humbled by the historic nature of this appointment. To God be the glory, great things he has done.”
She said the appointment wasn’t simply meant to serve as a milestone for the Ghanaian woman, but more importantly, as a source of great inspiration for every young girl across the country, who dares to dream.
“Today, I pay a respectful tribute to the 10 distinguished Auditor-Generals who have served our nation since the dawn of our independence in 1957. Of these 10, I have personally worked with three in my capacity as Partner at Ernst and Young,” she said.
Dr Graham paid special tribute to former Auditor-Generals: Richard Quartey, Daniel Domelevo, and Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu.
Adding that the Office rested on the foundation laid by these distinguished leaders who had served Ghana with diligence.
She noted that each of these leaders upheld the authority of this office under diverse political, economic, and constitutional circumstances.
She also commended the countless offices of the Audit Service, especially the Deputy Auditor-Generals’ whose professional dedication had sustained the work of the institution through the years.
Dr Graham said as the conscience of the nation, the Office of the Auditor-General carried a responsibility that demanded integrity, fairness, and the resolve to remain grounded in law even when it was difficult.
She said a recent policy brief by IMANI Africa titled, The Integrity of the Public Ledger and the Cost of Errors reminded them that errors in public financial records were truly harmful.
She said the shape decisions, influenced priorities, and could quietly undermine the systems we rely on.
She said when the public ledger loses its integrity, the nation pays a prize, not only in financial terms, but in trust.
“I come into this role, with 25 years of professional experience in the private sector, where credibility is not negotiable, numbers must stand up to scrutiny, systems must work, and when they do not, there are consequences. That discipline cannot remain at the boundaries of the private sector,” she said.
“I see this as an opportunity to bring in a fresh perspective grounded in professional rigour, global standards, and a strong culture of performance and results.”
Dr Graham said with over two decades of managing various engagements under the Office of the Auditor-General, she was acutely aware that the public service carried its own complexities.
She said therefore, it was imperative that she worked hand in hand with all dedicated professionals within the service to strengthen what already existed, improve where necessary, and continue to build an institution that commanded confidence and trust.
She said, she was mindful that this responsibility was assumed at a time of heightened public scrutiny and legitimate demand for discipline, prudence, and honesty in the management of the public resources.
Dr Graham said drawing from this, she welcomed and fully endorsed the establishment of dedicated high courts to handle infractions made from the Auditor-General’s report as a step in the right direction.
She said accountability must be enforced in a timely and credible manner, and that when findings were not acted upon, the system weakened further.
Adding that together, when they addressed decisively trust begins to build up.
She also drew attention to the fact that the strength of the Office was in its independence; stating that the independence should be upheld and not abused, as it was a necessity for the work we do.
To her colleagues in the Audit Service, she said the moment belonged to all of them.
Dr Graham said the credibility of the institution (the Audit Service) would be shaped by their daily decisions, the rigour of their work, the standards they refused to compromise, and the courage to insist on what was right, even when it was inconvenient.
She assured the President that as she took on the role of the Auditor-General, she committed to project the integrity of the public space, strengthening confidence in their institutions, and to contribute in a practical and measurable way in restoring trust in the systems that served the nation.
Present at the event were Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Dr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, and two former Auditor-Generals: Mr Daniel Yao Domlevo and Mr Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba