By Sasel E.A. Ekumah/ Evans Nana Yaw Osei, GNA
Accra, Aug. 26, GNA – Newly constituted Audit Committees of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Greater Accra have been tasked to strengthen financial controls and ensure public funds are properly managed.
The committees are expected to follow up on audit findings, ensure recommendations are implemented and help assemblies address weaknesses that could result in financial losses or recurring audit infractions.
Mr Bismark Aborbi-Ayitey, Deputy Director-General in charge of Finance, Administration and Support Services at the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), made the call at the inauguration of the committees in Accra on Wednesday.
He said the committees had an important oversight role in ensuring that internal audit findings translated into corrective action and improved financial management at the local level.
Mr Aborbi-Ayite said they were required to review internal audit reports, monitor implementation of recommendations and ensure weaknesses in internal controls were addressed promptly.
He called on members to maintain independence and objectivity in their work, saying Audit Committees should support management to strengthen governance rather than be seen as adversaries.
“Every cedi entrusted to your assemblies represents public trust and must be properly accounted for and utilised for its intended purpose,” he said.
Mr Aborbi-Ayite advised members to familiarise themselves with Sections 83 to 88 of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act, which set out the functions of Audit Committees.
Madam Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, said the volume of public resources channelled to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) made effective financial oversight critical.
She said more than 80 per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) was transferred directly to MMDAs, increasing the responsibility of the assemblies to account for the funds and ensure that they were used for their intended purposes.
Madam Sowah called on the committees to scrutinise procurement, expenditure, revenue mobilisation, contract management, asset management and project implementation.
She said effective oversight in those areas was necessary to minimise financial losses and prevent audit findings from recurring.
“An audit recommendation has little value if it remains on paper; its true value lies in the corrective action that follows,” she said.
Reverend Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo, Chief Director of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, who represented the Regional Minister, said the committees needed to demonstrate objectivity, integrity, professionalism and diligence.
He said their performance should be measured by the improvements they brought to the financial and operational systems of the assemblies, rather than the number of meetings held.
Rev. Owoo said the committees should give particular attention to risk management, internal controls, procurement processes, financial management and the implementation of internal and external audit recommendations.
The five-member committees comprise three independent members—one nominated by the IAA and two by the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana—and two members nominated by management.
The members took the Oath of Office and Oath of Secrecy and completed conflict-of-interest declarations as part of the inauguration.
The committees are expected to provide a link between internal audit functions and management by following through on identified weaknesses and recommendations to improve accountability in the assemblies.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey