By Dennis Peprah
Abesim, (B/R), Sept. 19, GNA – The Ghana Audit Service (GAS) has urged the public to capitalise on the “Citizens Eye” Mobile Application, to report issues of corruption and irregularities that occurred in the public sector, to the Audit Service.
Mr Frederick Lokko, the Assistant Director of Audit and Information Officer of the Ghana Audit Service, who gave the advice at a stakeholder sensitisation engagement at Abesim near Sunyani, said this, would enable the service to follow up and take the necessary action.
He said the service expected and looked upon both citizens and non-citizens home and abroad, to report cases of fraud, financial malfeasance, mismanagement of public funds and resources, as well as poor service delivery in various public offices.
“In fact, all abuses of public interest, including health, education, agriculture, environment and other sectors can also be reported,” Mr Lokko.
He gave the assurance that the confidentiality of informants was surely guaranteed and expressed the hope that the public would support the Auditor General in its fight against corruption.
The programme, which was organised by the Audit Service, with support from the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), was to sensitise and introduce the participants, including Heads of Department and Agencies, security services and other public sector employees to the use of the APP.
“It is the duty of every citizen to contribute to the fight against misappropriation of public funds and resources and we encourage everybody to use the app,” Mr Lokko stated.
He said the Audit Service had set up a team that monitored, picked up and forward concerns and issues reported on the mobile app, to the Auditor General.
In a brief background, Mr George Asiama Kumi, the Bono Regional Auditor, explained that the “Citizens Eye” mobile application was established under the direction of the Audit Service Board in 2019.
“It is in line with Regulation 51 (1) of the Audit Service Regulation 2011 (C.I. 70) which enjoins the Auditor-General to establish a means of obtaining information from citizens’ irregularities and follow-up”.
Mr Kumi explained that the App “gives special eye to the service through the lenses of citizens,” as it provided easy access for the public to send their complaints to the Auditor-General from any location.
“The App also guarantees confidentiality and anonymity for persons who do not want their identity to be disclosed,” he stated.
Earlier, personnel of the service undertook a float, paraded through the principal streets Sunyani and to sensitise and highlight the relevance of the App to the public.
GNA