Let’s audit the auditor – Ofori-Atta

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is advocating the audit-the-auditor concept to promote professionalism among auditors in the country.

Speaking at the Ministry of Finance and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) inauguration of a new Tax Audit and Quality Assurance Unit to ensure a centralised audit planning process and guarantee quality auditing, Mr Ofori-Atta said: “Some auditors in charge of auditing jobs, sometimes get away with unprofessional practices because no one audits their work when they are done, so, many wrongs are buried upon the issuance of their reports never to be resurrected again, and we want to change that”.

“So, there should be an audit to audit the auditor concept”, he suggested, adding: “Once they know their work may be reviewed, they will not compromise on the integrity of their work.”

The unit, according to Mr Ofori-Atta, will work to eliminate corrupt acts in revenue mobilisation in the country.

For his part, the Commissioner-General of the GRA, Reverend Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, said the unit will help the Commission improve its revenue collection.

“If you, as a tax authority, want to be able to wipe away the issue of corruption and integrity, it requires a definite, purposeful act to move ahead, otherwise no matter what you do, we will not be able to get the needed result. Therefore, GRA, as part of our strategic direction aim at coming out with a definite action that will ensure that perception or the reality of corruption, as far audit is concerned, is reduced to a significant level in GRA. Our commitment to this course is absolute,” he stated.