The Audit Committee of the Lands Commission was inaugurated on 14th September, 2022 by Dr. Eric Oduro Osae, Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency. In attendance was the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. James Ebenezer Kobina Dadson. In his welcome remarks, he thanked the outgoing members for their good work and congratulated the new members.
The inauguration was chaired by the National Chairman of the Commission Mr. Alex Quaynor. In his address, he reiterated the importance of the Committee and spoke on its mandate. The National Chairman spoke on the Auditor-General’s Report and matters arising. He mentioned that with the tenure of the current Committee, he hoped the Commission would not appear in the Auditor-General’s Report. He pledged the support of the Board.
Dr. Osae in his address indicated that the Audit Committee is a high-level Committee, reason being that copies of the annual report of the Committee directly go to the Office of the President, Parliament and the Auditor-General. He numerated the three main roles of the Committee as mandatory, advisory and supporting. The Director-General in his address admonished members not to take over the management of the Commission but to support them in the delivery of its mandate.
He stated the mandatory role as working with Management to implement recommendations in Internal and External Audit Reports, directives from PAC and any monitoring reports of the Commission with financial implication. He informed members of the partnership with the Economic Crime and (EOCO) to ensure that leaders of institutions are held responsible for audit infractions. He spoke on the mandatory submission of annual and half year reports. He mentioned audit infractions on the Commission reported in the Auditor-General’s Report.
On the advisory roles, Dr. Osae tasked the Committee to mainstream enterprise risk management in their operations as required by the PFM Act. On the supporting roles, the Director-General tasked the Committee to support the Internal Audit Unit to deliver on its mandate and ensure a timely submission of a Risk Based Internal Audit (RBIA) plan and quarterly reports based on the plan. He informed them of the naming and shaming of institutions which default in report submission and entreated the Committee to ensure the Commission does not default.
Concluding his address, Dr. Osae he encouraged the Committee to put their services at the disposal of Management and ensure a balance of performance and financial audits as this could improve the output of the Commissions as a whole. He pledged the support of the Agency and advised that members should visit the website of the Agency for more information. He also encouraged Management of the Commission to organise an orientation programme for the new Committee to enable members understand the operations of the institution. He advised the Committee to ensure that the name of the Commission does not appear in the Auditor-General’s Report next year.
Mr. Alex Quaynor in his closing statement indicated that it was evident that there was a lot to be done to put the Commission in a favourable light again. He assured the Committee of the support of Management.
Members of the Committee are Mr. Joseph Winful (Chairman of the Committee and Board Chairman of IAA), Mrs. Gillian Naadu Tetteh (IAA Rep), Mr. Joseph Kormor Tawiah (ICAG Rep), Mr. Isaac Kwadwo Amankwah and Prof. Nicholas Lenin Anane-Agyei (Representatives from the Lands Commission Board).
