Issah Alhassan
21 July 2011
Kumasi — Auditors in the country have been charged to lead the forefront in the quest of the government to eliminate corruption in public institutions.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Agyemang Mensah, who made the call in a speech read on his behalf at a day’s Consultative Workshop organised by the Ghana Audit Service in Kumasi last Tuesday, noted that auditors can play a leading role in ensuring proper probity and accountability in public spending if given the needed functional support.
The Consultative Workshop was organised to discuss and solicit views from stakeholders on the proposed amendment of the Internal Audit Agency Act 2003 (Act 658), which is currently awaiting the approval of Parliament.
The workshop, which was attended by participants drawn the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), was also aimed, amongst other things, at highlighting the shortfalls existing in the current law, and make contributions towards the proposed revision that would enable the agency carry out its constitutional mandate effectively.
It was also to evaluate the performance of the Internal Audit Agency, per the existing law, and come out with suggestions and ideas that would help to properly position the unit to make it more functional.
Dr. Kwaku Agyemang Mensah emphasised the need for the stakeholders to take a holistic approach concerning the review, in order to make objective contributions towards the amendment.
He indicated that internal auditing has a key role to play in ensuring that the expenditure patterns of Ministries, Departments and District Assemblies are within the targets set in their respective budgets.
The Regional Minister, therefore, noted that it was against this backdrop that a review of the current law was necessary to create the enabling environment for staff of the agency to perform their roles more efficiently.
Dr. Kwaku Agyemang said the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was very much committed to issues concerning probity and accountability, and would go to every length to ensure that institutions charged with the management of state funds do so diligently. The Internal Audit Agency Act (IAAA) was established by an Act of Parliament, with a mission to co-ordinate, facilitate and provide assurance for internal audit units in MDAs and MMDAs.
It was also meant to promote good governance, by improving accountability in the use of state resources by public officials.
However, in spite of the numerous milestones achieved by the Internal Audit Agency in ensuring the appropriate use of state funds and resources, the agency continues to encounter certain challenges, which have necessitated the review of the act to make the Internal Auditing Units more effective in the discharge of responsibilities in the management of public accounts.
These challenges, according to the Ghana Audit Service, tend to hinder the independence and effective execution of the duties of the agency, hence the need for an amendment of the existing law.
The stakeholders were, therefore, of the view that the ratification of the proposed modification would help remove grey areas in the law, to make it possible for the agency to effectively deliver on its duties, in line with the international standards for the professional practice of internal auditing.
Addressing the participants at the workshop, which was under the topic ‘Importance of the Amendment of the Internal Audit,’ a board member of the Ghana Audit Board, Rebecca Atswei Lomo, noted that some of the provisions in the law do not promote the desired independence, objectivity and protection of the Internal Audit Unit staff.
She said though the Act, since its establishment, had tremendously contributed in streamlining the use of state funds and ensured accountability, certain bottlenecks were hindering the efficient operations of the agency at the MDAs and MMDAs.
According to her, one of the key amendments being proposed by the Internal Audit Board was the consolidation of internal audit resources of the MDAs and MMDAs under the agency, with the agency as head of the class, explaining that the measure would go a long way to ensure the independence and objectivity of internal auditors.
Mad. Atswei Lomo emphasised that even though internal audit professionals have sought greater recognition and respect for their activities, the amendment of the Act 658 would help ensure that such recognition and respect would improve and make the job of staff more secure.
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Ghana: Auditors Are Key Partners in Fight Against Corruption -Minister