President John Dramani Mahama has officially sworn in Dr. Pamela Graham as Ghana’s first female Auditor-General, marking a historic milestone in the country’s public financial management and accountability system.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at Jubilee House on Thursday, July 2, was witnessed by Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domlevo.
Dr. Graham becomes the eleventh person — and first woman — to lead the Audit Service since its establishment, succeeding Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, who retired after serving as Auditor-General.
Addressing the gathering, President Mahama described the Office of the Auditor-General as one of Ghana’s most important constitutional institutions, whose work extends well beyond auditing government accounts. He called the swearing-in a reaffirmation of the nation’s collective commitment to the Constitution, the rule of law, and the principles of transparency and accountability underpinning Ghana’s democracy.
The President urged Dr. Graham to discharge her constitutional mandate with courage, fairness, independence and professionalism, reminding her that she serves the Constitution and the people of Ghana — not any government, political party or individual. He noted that at a time when Ghanaians are demanding greater transparency, the role of the Auditor-General has never been more critical.
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Dr. Graham has 25 years of professional experience in the private sector, including a stint as Senior Partner at Ernst & Young from 2020, bringing deep expertise in auditing, governance, risk management and financial accountability to one of the country’s foremost accountability institutions. Her appointment is widely seen as a significant step toward greater gender representation in Ghana’s top public offices, and has been welcomed by many as a landmark achievement reinforcing the country’s commitment to sound financial management and inclusive leadership.
President Mahama also used the occasion to pay tribute to outgoing Auditor-General Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, thanking him for his dedicated service and contribution to strengthening public accountability. He further pledged continued government investment in the Ghana Audit Service’s technology, digital systems, staff development and institutional reforms.
Under the Constitution, Dr. Graham’s responsibilities include:
- Auditing the accounts of all public institutions — Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), state-owned enterprises, and other publicly funded bodies.
- Detecting and reporting financial irregularities, waste, fraud and the misuse of public funds.
- Recommending corrective measures to strengthen financial management and internal controls
Submitting independent audit reports to Parliament to enable oversight of government spending - Promoting transparency, accountability and public confidence in the management of state resources.
- Carrying out her duties with independence, courage, fairness and integrity.
- Basing every audit report on facts, evidence and the law, free from political influence.
- Preserving and modernising the legacy of the Audit Service.
- Ensuring audit reports serve as practical tools for improving governance, not mere statutory formalities.
- Helping safeguard the public purse as Ghana pursues economic recovery, infrastructure development and improved revenue mobilisation.
Reflecting on her appointment, Dr. Graham said becoming an auditor had been her dream since her teenage years, though she never imagined she would one day rise to lead Ghana’s supreme audit institution. She described becoming the first woman to hold the office as both a privilege and a solemn responsibility, noting that the discipline she brings from the private sector — where credibility is non-negotiable and numbers must withstand scrutiny — cannot remain confined to that world alone.
Her tenure will be closely watched, with Ghanaians expecting stronger enforcement of audit recommendations, greater transparency in public spending, and firmer action against financial mismanagement across the public sector.