The Internal Audit Agency (IAA) conducted a mass inauguration of Audit Committees of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) across six zones on 26th August 2026. The exercise took place in the Greater Accra, Northern, Ashanti, Bono, Western and Eastern regions and marked a significant step towards strengthening accountability and sound financial management within MMDAs and RCCs.
At the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GRCC), the Acting Deputy Director-General responsible for Finance, Administration and Support Services (FASS), Mr. Bismark Aborbi-Ayitey, inaugurated the Audit Committees on behalf of the Acting Director-General, Mr. Conrad Dumbah. In his address, he charged members to provide effective oversight of internal audit activities, monitor the implementation of audit recommendations and ensure that weaknesses in internal controls are promptly addressed. He stressed that Audit Committees should be regarded as partners to Management and urged members to discharge their responsibilities with independence, objectivity, integrity and professionalism.
The Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, urged the Committees to play a proactive role in safeguarding public resources and ensuring that resources transferred to MMDAs translate into tangible development outcomes. She called for stronger oversight of procurement, expenditure, revenue mobilisation, contract and asset management, project implementation and risk management, while emphasising the need to address recurring audit findings.
The Chief Director of the GRCC, Rev. Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo, also noted that the responsibility of Audit Committees was particularly significant given the scale and complexity of development activities across the Region’s assemblies. He tasked members to identify weaknesses and manage risks early to prevent losses and protect service delivery.
In Tamale, the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) hosted the exercise, where Mr. Alhassan Fuseini, Deputy Director in charge of the Projects Monitoring and Coordination Unit (PMCU) of IAA, represented the Acting Director-General and supervised the inauguration of Audit Committees of the various MMDAs, with support from Madam Karen Nana Oye Larbi. Speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister, the Chief Executive of the Regional Coordinating Council, Mr. Sumaila Ewuntomah Abudu, congratulated the newly inaugurated members and urged them to discharge their duties with integrity and professionalism. He called on Management of MMDAs to provide the Committees with the necessary support and cooperation and encouraged members to submit timely reports to IAA.
The Bono Region also hosted its inauguration at the University of Natural Energy and Resources (UNER) Hall in Sunyani, bringing together more than 145 Audit Committee appointees from Assemblies across the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions, alongside other stakeholders. Speaking on behalf of the Regional Minister, the Chief Director of the Bono RCC urged the newly appointed members to strengthen internal controls and mitigate risks, stressing that Audit Committees should support management and serve as an early-warning mechanism for emerging risks.
Mr. Patrick Vug Nanke, Head of Internal Audit at the IAA, conducted the swearing-in and emphasised the Committees’ responsibility of providing independent oversight of risk management, internal controls and governance, and pursuing the implementation of internal and external audit recommendations. He further urged members to hold regular meetings and submit annual reports to the IAA on time. Mrs. Fidelia Quansah-Fianko and Mr. Christopher Jonah provided support during the inauguration.
The Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (ERCC) subsequently hosted the eastern leg of the exercise at NASCO Hotel, Koforidua, where Dr. Cynthia Sallah, Deputy Director-General (TFO) of IAA, swore in the newly constituted Audit Committees on behalf of the Acting Director-General. She urged the Committees and management to submit reports on time, manage risks effectively, prevent fraud and ensure that audit recommendations are properly implemented and supported with evidence.
Delivering her address, the Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, emphasised the importance of Audit Committees in ensuring the effective use of public resources and urged members to uphold professionalism, independence and honesty in the discharge of their duties.
In his closing remarks, the Chief Director of the ERCC, Mr. Ebenezer Amoah, urged members to abide by the rules governing their work and stressed the importance of regular attendance, active participation and diligence.
As part of the same zonal exercise, the Oti Region held its inauguration virtually, with Mr. Bismark Aborbi-Ayitey administering the oath of office to members of the newly constituted committees. He reiterated the importance of identifying weaknesses in internal controls promptly and ensuring that appropriate corrective measures are implemented, while urging Management to provide the Committees with the necessary information and resources to discharge their mandate effectively.
The mass inaugurations reinforced the IAA’s commitment to strengthening Audit Committees as an important component of the public financial management and accountability agenda. The newly inaugurated members are expected to strengthen internal controls and promote responsible stewardship of public resources within MMDAs across the country.