Dr. Eric Oduro Osae inaugurated the Audit Committee of the Environmental Protection Agency on 1st August, 2022.
The Board Chairman of the Agency, Mr. Kwesi Ayan chaired the inauguration. In his address, he remarked on the importance of the Committee.
Dr. Oduro Osae in his address said the Audit Committee is a statutory Committee established under the Public Financial Management Act (PFM Act) for all public institutions. He spelt out the constitution of the Committee per the Act as being made up of three (3) Independent members. The break down of the independent members is as follows: Two (2) representatives from the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) and one (1) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG) and two internal members.
The Director-General mentioned the three functions of the Audit Committee as mandatory, advisory and supporting. He said members should prevent Management from falling into avoidable pitfalls as far as financial irregularities and control systems are concerned. He advised that Management should allow the Audit Committee and the  Internal Audit Unit to do a comprehensive review of systems and identify all weaknesses and help their resolution  before admitting External Auditors.
Dr. Osae informed the meeting on the submission of Annual reports to Parliament, the Office of the President, the Auditor-General and the Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency. These reports, Dr. Osae said are referred and reviewed by the appropriate Select Committee of Parliament to discuss and resolve issues before they get to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.
The Director-General in his closing remarks thanked members for accepting to serve Mother Ghana through the Audit Committee and advised them to give off their best to support the Organization and be a partner in its development. He tasked Management to see the Internal Audit Agency and the Audit Committee as partners as they are mandated to support public institutions clean up the system and put in place control systems and help in the delivery of the institution’s mandate.
The Board chairman in his closing remarks thanked out-going members for their support and congratulated the incoming members. He informed the meeting of the on-going automation of the EPA certification system to ensure a seamless process in its activities. He encouraged the Audit Committee to support the project and ensure its successful and effective takeoff.
Members of the Committee are Mr. Martin Adjei (Chairman and IAA Rep), Mrs. Rita Sarkodie-Baffoe (IAA Rep), Mr.Emmanuel Amakye (ICAG Rep), Mr. Samuel Aggrey and Maame Kesewa Eshun (Reps of EPA). Ms. Josephine Akwely Bishoff is Secretary to the Committee.
