By Kingsley Mamore, GNA
Dambai (O/R), Aug 29, GNA – The Oti Regional Coordinating Council (ORCC) has inaugurated its Audit Committee and those of the Region’s nine Municipal and District Assemblies to strengthen accountability, transparency and prudent management of public resources.
The inauguration, held at the ORCC Conference Hall in Dambai, brought together members of the newly constituted committees, their secretaries, Coordinating Directors, Internal Auditors, Finance Officers and other key stakeholders in public financial management.
Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) from Kadjebi, Krachi East, Nkwanta South and Biakoye were also present to support efforts aimed at strengthening financial governance within the Region.
Representatives of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) participated virtually on behalf of the Director-General of the Agency and formally administered the oath of office to members of the committees.
The IAA representatives charged the members to uphold integrity, independence, professionalism and accountability in the discharge of their mandate.
They also outlined the functions of Audit Committees, stressing their role in strengthening internal controls, reviewing audit findings, monitoring the implementation of audit recommendations, identifying institutional risks and promoting sound financial management.
The representatives urged the committees to work closely with management, Internal Audit Units and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that weaknesses identified through audits were addressed promptly and recommendations effectively implemented.
Delivering an address on behalf of the Oti Regional Minister, Mr Eric Yankson, Regional Director of the Internal Audit Unit of the ORCC, congratulated the newly inaugurated members and underscored the importance of Audit Committees to effective public sector governance.
He said the inauguration marked an important step towards strengthening accountability, transparency, prudent financial management and good governance within the Region.
Mr Yankson said public resources belonged to the people and must, therefore, be managed efficiently, transparently and in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.
He urged members of the committees to discharge their responsibilities with independence, objectivity, professionalism, courage and integrity.
He said the committees should not perceive their role merely as identifying faults, but rather as contributing to the strengthening of institutional systems, managing risks and protecting public resources.
Mr Yankson further urged the committees to pay particular attention to the follow-up and implementation of audit recommendations, noting that audit reports would have limited impact if the issues identified were not addressed.
He also called on management of the various Assemblies to provide the committees with the necessary cooperation and support to enable them to effectively perform their functions.
Mr Yankson commended existing Audit Committees that had demonstrated commitment to their mandate, particularly through the regular conduct of quarterly and where necessary, emergency meetings to address urgent financial and administrative matters.
He noted that such commitment demonstrated that effective accountability was driven not only by the availability of resources but also by professionalism, dedication and a strong sense of responsibility.
He, therefore, encouraged the newly inaugurated committees to regard their appointments as a responsibility entrusted to them by the people of Ghana and to ensure that their work contributed to stronger internal controls, improved management of public resources and enhanced institutional performance.
The inauguration ended with a call on all stakeholders within the local government system to collaborate in strengthening accountability and safeguarding the integrity of public institutions in the Oti Region.
The newly inaugurated committees are expected to work closely with management, Internal Audit Units, the Internal Audit Agency and other accountability institutions to promote sound financial management and good governance in their respective institutions.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah