IAA urges government to tighten internal audit laws

Dr. Eric Oduro Osae, Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), has urged the government to expedite the passage of the IAA Bill to curb financial irregularities at state institutions.

He explained that passing the regulation would provide the IAA with the independence it needs to significantly reduce anomalies in government institutions, as evidenced by the annual auditor general’s report.

Dr Osae was speaking during a media workshop organized by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) in Accra for journalists from various regions, which was funded by the Hewlett Foundation.

The workshop was part of the Building Evidence for Increased Accountability in Ghana through a Multi-Stakeholder Accountability Initiative, which aimed to expose journalists to the intricacies of public sector auditing, as well as the legal, institutional, and practical implications of some of the recommendations.

It sought to train the media on Ghana’s audit system, considering the critical role that the media could play in reducing audit irregularities and corruption, and ensuring that recommendations from the Auditor General and internal auditors are effectively implemented.

Dr Osae said strengthening the legislation that supports the IAA’s work was critical to preventing persistent irregularities and that “without these improvements, we can expect to see recurring issues annually.”

He said that value for money in public transactions includes economics, efficiency, effectiveness, and environmental impact evaluation.

“It is essential to evaluate how these transactions affect the environment to ensure comprehensive value for money. The bottom line is that we should emphasise on preventing rather than allowing the horses to bolt before we chase them.

“After the program, you would see journalists asking the critical questions, following where the money is, and appreciating the fact that public expenditure must be incurred on a value-for-money basis,” he said.

Dr Osae noted that the focus of the many irregularities was on empowering external auditors, but they were often brought in only after issues had already occurred.

“For years, we have relied on a post facto approach, yet irregularities and corruption remained prevalent, hence it was time to change the narrative by shifting focus to proactive measures and addressing issues from the outset.

Dr Osae said duty bearers must be held accountable consistently to ensure that Ghana’s resources are used judiciously to benefit all citizens while also demonstrating good governance.

“So, I want to see it in both the manifestos of the two leading political parties, arguably, it’s one of them that will win the elections, so when they win, we hold them to implement their promises,” he stressed.

Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Secretary of GACC, said a clear definition of corruption was required in accordance with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, to which Ghana is a signatory.

She said that the Conduct of Public Officers Bill had been ignored for eight years under the present administration and that they hoped it would be enacted by the end of the year and not become just another campaign promise.

Mrs Narteh said it was essential to strengthen the IAA to ensure greater independence in its operations, adding that the current state of the agency was contributing to corruption in public management and fund oversight, as well as diminishing accountability for public funds.