Dr. Eric Oduro Osae, Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) on 9th November, 2022, inaugurated the Audit Committee of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA). Dr. Nii Kwashie Allotey, Director-General of the Authority who chaired the event said in his opening remarks that the NRA came into existence in 2016 as an offshoot of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. Its mandate he stated, is to regulate issues relating to aviation hazards. Dr. Allotey thanked the past Committee for the excellent work.
Delivering his speech, Dr. Osae stated that the Audit Committee is a national statutory Committee established under the Public Financial Management (PFM)Act. He clarified that the institution is a very important one since it ensures humans and the environment are protected from the harmful effects of radiation. He charged the new Committee to support leadership not to violate laws in the delivery of its mandate. The Director-General of the IAA proceeded to outline the statutory roles of the Committee. He mentioned that mandatorily, the Committee is required to support Management to implement recommendations from Internal and External Audit Reports, directives from Parliament and monitoring reports generated from the operations of the institution. He stressed that if this was done, leadership would be prevented from falling into avoidable pitfalls. He advised members to make themselves available during entrance and exit meetings of External Auditors in order to help in the resolution of audit findings. The Committee should also submit a performance report on its activities annually. He advised the Committee to develop a good working relationship with the Sector Ministry.
On the advisory roles, Dr. Osae said the Committee is to advise Management on PFM requirements. He revealed that public sector institutions are now moving away from pre-auditing to risk-based auditing which entails proactiveness. To achieve this, he tasked the Committee to assist in the development of a risk management policy if NRA does not have one. If it on the other hand had one, Dr. Osae requested the Committee to help in implementing it. According to the Director-General of IAA, the supporting roles of the Committee include assisting the Internal Audit Unit to prepare and submit required reports. He mentioned that the Agency is encouraging public institutions to adopt the IPPF which would ensure institutions are benchmarked against international standards.
Concluding, Dr. Osae spoke about the Agency’s readiness to publish the Defaulters’ List for non-submission of the 3rd Quarter Internal Audit Report. He explained that being published for non-submission will affect the assessment of leadership of defaulting institutions. He also stated that the Annual Performance Report is due by 31st December, 2022 and the 4th Quarter Internal Audit Report by 31st January, 2023. He charged members to help in shaping the 2023 Work plan NRA to fit into its operational system. Dr. Osae said members needed to understand the operations of the Authority and entreated leadership to orientate them.
The Director-General of the NRA assured the support of Management to ensure the Committee achieves its mandate.
Members of the Committee are Mr. Augustine Nartey Shardey (ICAG Rep and Chairman of the Committee), Mr. Godfried Mordey (IAA Rep), Ms. Susan Asiedu (IAA Rep), Emerita Prof. Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi and Hon. Daniel Alex Nii-Noi Adumuah are representatives of the NRA Board. Ms. Sylvia Esenam Obrey is Secretary to the Committee.
