The Internal Audit Agency as part of activities to mark the Internal Audit Awareness Week celebration, on 28th March, 2023, presentations were made in two universities in Accra on the theme “Catch them Young”. The presentations were aimed at debunking the negative notion associated with the Internal Audit Profession and inspiring young undergraduates to go into it.
Mr. Gyekye-Mensah, a Deputy Director at the Agency who made the presentation at the University of Professional Studies’ Accra (UPSA), shared on what Internal Audit means and what it is as a profession. He outlined the concepts of Internal Audit and explained the three (3) pillars of auditing namely control, risk management and governance. The distinction between an Internal Auditor and an External Auditor was explained in the presentation.
The Deputy Director concluded by informing students that Internal Auditors play a key role in organizations and act as trusted advisors so any well-meaning CEO would want to solicit the advice of Internal Auditors before taking key decisions. He encouraged students to choose internal auditing as a profession since they stand a better chance of succeeding and attaining self fulfilment in life.
Mr. Patrick Vug Nanke, the Head of the Agency’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) facilitated the presentation at the Accra Technical University (ATU). He also started with a brief survey on the career expectations of students. After the students shared their varied career expectations, he brought to their attention the role internal audit play in institutions and stated that for all institutions to run smoothly, controls have to be put in place and this is what the Internal Auditor does. He further explained what internal auditing is and not, the difference between internal audit and external audit and the four (4) stages of auditing. There was an open session for questions and answers in both institutions for which all misconceptions with regards to the Internal Audit practices were addressed.
Mr. Nanke concluded by highlighting how important it was to have an Internal Auditor in an organization and encouraged students to pursue that line of profession to join the fight against corruption in Ghana and ensure efficient use of resources wherever they find themselves.
Over 200 and 150 students participated in the seminars at UPSA and ATU respectively.
