Internal Auditors must help govt fight corruption - Col. Necku

Ho, July 5, GNA - Colonel Cyril Necku (Rtd), Deputy Volta Regional Minister, on Tuesday, called on internal auditors to help the government to fight corruption and save resources for infrastructural development.

Col. Necku was addressing a stakeholders' consultative workshop on the review of the Internal Audit Agency, ACT 2003, (ACT658) in Ho. He advised them to stick to principles of internal auditing, abide by their professional code of ethics and ensure compliance with policies, procedures and the financial laws of the land.

"You are not responsible for the execution of an entity's activity but rather you should play your advisory role to your management regarding how to better execute their responsibilities," Col. Necku said.

He asked the participants to take critical look at the amendment proposal ensuring that it adds value and improves on the work of the internal auditor determining efficiency of operations, reliability of financial reporting, investigating fraud and safeguarding assets among others.

Nii Adumansa-Baiddioo, Chairman of the Internal Audit Board, said the amendment had become necessary because some provisions in the law did not promote the desired independence, objectivity and the protection of Internal Audit Unit staff and fell short of international standards.

He said one of the key amendments being proposed by the Board was the consolidation of internal audit resources of Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies under the Agency, with the agency as the head of the "class".

Nii Adumansa-Baiddioo said the Board believed that, that amendment would ensure the independence, objectivity and protection of internal auditors and promote accountability.