By Kekeli K. Blamey, GNA
Sogakope (V/R), June 04, GNA-The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has commended the South Tongu Municipal Assembly for addressing audit infractions identified in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report and improving its responsiveness to audit recommendations.
The commendation came during a citizen-led accountability engagement between CDD-Ghana, the Assembly’s Management, members of the Audit Committee, internal auditors and representatives of various community groups in the Municipality.
The engagement formed part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and citizen participation in local governance through social auditing initiatives.
Mr Jacob Tetteh Ahuno, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at CDD-Ghana, said the meeting enabled citizens and stakeholders to review audit findings and assess measures taken by the Assembly to address identified weaknesses.
He said the Assembly was cited twice in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report over the non-remittance of statutory deductions to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
According to him, evidence presented during the engagement showed that the Assembly had resolved both issues, a development that deserved commendation.
“We acknowledged the efforts of the Assembly because the infractions have been addressed, and we also observed that issues raised in previous years have not reoccurred, indicating that recommendations are being implemented,” he said.
Mr Ahuno noted that discussions during the engagement extended beyond the specific audit findings to examine the effectiveness of internal accountability mechanisms within the Assembly.
He explained that the infractions had earlier been detected by internal auditors but were not acted upon in time, leading to their eventual inclusion in the Auditor-General’s Report.
“The engagement revealed the need for management to pay greater attention to internal audit reports. If recommendations from internal auditors are implemented promptly, many issues can be resolved before external auditors identify them,” he stated.
Mr Ahuno stressed the importance of regular Audit Committee meetings and stronger follow-up on recommendations to prevent future audit infractions.
He said CDD-Ghana would continue advocating reforms aimed at strengthening the independence of internal auditors and enhancing the effectiveness of Audit Committees in public institutions.
Mr Haruna Issaku, the Internal Auditor of the South Tongu Municipal Assembly, described the engagement as timely and beneficial, saying it demonstrated growing public interest in accountability and prudent management of public resources.
He said the interaction provided an opportunity for the Assembly to explain actions taken to address audit concerns while receiving valuable feedback from citizens and civil society actors.
Mr Issaku noted that the number of audit issues recorded against the Assembly had reduced significantly over the years and expressed optimism that strengthened collaboration among management, internal auditors and the Audit Committee would help eliminate future infractions.
Mr Mensah Kwaku Kudze, the Presiding Member of the South Tongu Municipal Assembly, reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to implementing audit recommendations and maintaining sound financial management practices.
He said the Assembly would continue to work closely with the Audit Committee and management staff to ensure that issues identified by auditors were addressed promptly.
The participants urged public institutions to treat internal audit recommendations as an important management tool for improving performance and preventing recurring audit queries. This version keeps the spotlight on CDD-Ghana’s commendation, the citizen engagement, and the role of the Audit Committee and internal auditors rather than the broader governance discussion.
During the engagement, stakeholders reviewed the Assembly’s response to two audit infractions contained in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report. The first related to the non-remittance of withholding tax on transactions financed through the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), while the second concerned delayed remittance of SSNIT contributions deducted from casual workers.
Documents presented to the Social Auditing Club showed that the Assembly had fully settled the outstanding tax obligation with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the sum of GHS 25, 643.12, while the SSNIT deductions amounting to GHS11,139.79 had also been remitted. Auditor verification reports presented to participants indicated that both matters had been resolved, with auditors concluding that no further action was required.
The activity was held under the Strengthening Accountability, Rule of Law, and Institutional Responsiveness in Ghana (SARIS) project.
The SARIS project is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Transparency International Ghana (TI-Ghana), and Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC).
The SARIS project focuses on building a society where citizens are active participants in governance and anti-corruption efforts. It operates across 24 selected districts in Ghana and targets a wide range of stakeholders, from ordinary community members to investigative journalists and public institutions.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah