Sunday, December 1, 2024

IAA INAUGURATES THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE AYAWASO WEST MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY

The Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency, Dr. E.O. Osae on 27th February, 2023, inaugurated the Audit Committee of the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly.

 The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Sandra Owusu-Ahenkorah who chaired the meeting in her opening remarks thanked the members of the Committee for accepting to serve and assist with the work of the Assembly. She also expressed her appreciation to the Director-General for availing himself for the inauguration. She emphasised that the establishment of the Committee has been very instrumental in preventing the Assembly from being cited for serious infractions and ensuring compliance with relevant Public Financial Management laws. She welcomed the new Committee and assured the support of Management in the achievement of its mandate.

 Members of the Committee are Mr. Daniel Nelson Dei (ICAG Rep and Chairman of the Committee), Mr. Robert A. Abugri (ICAG Rep), Mr. Anthony Baidoo (IAA Rep), Mr. Benjamin N. Oklah and Madam Rebecca Serwaa Agyei are representatives of the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly. Mr. Jenyson Ayih is the Secretary of the Committee.

 Delivering his address, Dr. Osae informed the Committee about its three statutory roles provided under the Public Financial Management Act 2016, (Act 921) as mandatory, advisory and supporting. He tasked members of the Committee to put their accounting expertise at the disposal of leadership and support it to deliver on its mandate. He mentioned that the mandatory roles of the Committee include supporting Management to implement recommendations from Internal and External Audit Reports, directives of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament and monitoring reports. Dr. Osae added that the Committee is required to prepare an annual report on its activities and submit a copy to the Office of the President, Parliament, the Auditor-General and the Director-General of the Agency. This report, he said gives the Presidency a fair idea of the control systems at the Assembly.

 The Director-General advised the Committee to make itself available at Entrance and Exit meetings of External Auditors to be abreast with audit issues raised and resolve them before their appearance in the Management Letter. On the advisory roles, Dr. Osae charged members of the Committee to put their advisory and assurance services at the disposal of the Assembly. The supporting roles of the Committee according to Dr. Osae, include assisting the Internal Auditor prepare and submit relevant reports. He stated that the Agency is not only naming and shaming non-compliant institutions which default in the submission of audit reports but also applying sanctions. He added that as an Assembly, there is the added consequence of losing financial support in the event of non-compliance.

 In conclusion, Dr. Osae charged the Committee to ensure that the Assembly places high on the PFM league table. He assured the assistance of the Agency if required and tasked Management to organize an orientation for members to acclimatize them to the operations of the institution.

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