The National Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programme (NEIP) has taken a significant step towards strengthening transparency, accountability, and good governance with the inauguration of its maiden Audit Committee.
The Committee was sworn in on 6th October 2026 by the Acting Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), Mr. Conrad Z. Dumbah, marking a new chapter in NEIP’s commitment to strong oversight and effective financial stewardship.
In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the Programme, Mr. Eric Adjei Esq., noted that although NEIP has been in existence since 2015, he identified significant gaps in the institution’s internal control systems upon assuming office about two years ago. He emphasised the need to strengthen these systems to ensure efficiency and support the Government’s “Resetting Agenda”, leading to the inauguration of the Audit Committee. He further noted that, given NEIP’s responsibility for managing public funds, there was a need to establish a functional Audit Committee.
Mr. Harold K. A. Richardson, a representative of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), was elected Chairperson of the Committee. In his acceptance remarks, he assured Management that the Committee members would discharge their responsibilities with integrity, transparency, and professionalism, drawing on their collective expertise to ensure the successful achievement of the Programme’s objective of creating 10,000 businesses annually.
In his speech, Mr. Dumbah stated that the Audit Committee serves as a beacon of assurance in the work of NEIP. He further noted that the “tone at the top” reflects a culture of openness, thereby ensuring good governance. He urged the Committee to ensure the effective implementation of audit recommendations, observing that recurring infractions are often attributable to the failure to address their underlying root causes.
In conclusion, the Acting Director-General stated that the Agency, in its capacity as a Trusted Assurance Partner (TAP), remains available to support NEIP with any training needs the institution may require.