Professor Edward Dua Agyeman has stepped down as Chairman of the Audit Service Board, ending a public service career that spans Ghana’s entire Fourth Republic.
In a letter dated 30 May 2025, Prof. Dua Agyeman informed President John Dramani Mahama of his resignation, citing personal reasons. His exit took effect on 31 May, closing a chapter of over three decades of involvement in Ghana’s public financial oversight.
“I thank you for the opportunity to serve our nation,” Prof. Agyeman wrote in his brief letter addressed to the presidency.
His resignation marks the end of a significant era in Ghana’s governance. Appointed as Auditor-General in April 2001, he served under both President John Agyekum Kufuor and President John Evans Atta Mills before leaving the role in May 2010. But his public service did not end there.
In 2017, then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appointed him as Chairman of the Audit Service Board, a position he held until his resignation in May 2025.
Before these leadership roles, Prof. Agyeman had already built a reputation within the service, serving as Deputy Auditor-General between July 1987 and June 1989. His career therefore spans administrations from the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era to all five presidents of Ghana’s Fourth Republic—making him the only Auditor-General to serve under every civilian government since the return to constitutional rule in 1992.
His ability to work across political divides has earned him respect in both policy and civil society circles, often cited as a symbol of institutional continuity and stability within Ghana’s audit infrastructure.
Although the reason for his resignation remains officially “personal,” his timing comes at a moment of intensified public focus on accountability in governance, with recent debates surrounding the independence of the Auditor-General’s office and the oversight role of the Audit Service Board.
His leadership has not been without controversy. As Chair of the Board, Prof. Agyeman at times faced scrutiny over tensions with former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo, who was lauded by anti-corruption campaigners for his assertive audit work. Nonetheless, Prof. Agyeman maintained that his role was to uphold the structural integrity of the Audit Service.
Despite differing views on his legacy, many acknowledge his staying power in Ghana’s turbulent political terrain. His career has survived regime changes, policy shifts, and institutional reforms, without public scandal.
He now exits quietly, offering no public interviews or press engagements following his resignation. His departure opens the door for new leadership at the Audit Service Board at a time when Ghana is grappling with fiscal discipline, rising public debt, and calls for transparency in government spending.
The presidency has not yet named a successor.
