Newly constituted Audit Committees of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region have been tasked to tighten financial controls and ensure prudent management of public funds.
The committees are expected to follow up on audit findings, monitor the implementation of recommendations and help assemblies address weaknesses in their financial systems that could result in losses or recurring audit infractions.
Mr Bismark Aborbi-Ayitey, Deputy Director-General in charge of Finance, Administration and Support Services at the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), made the call in Accra during the inauguration of the committees.
He said the committees had a critical oversight responsibility in ensuring that internal audit findings resulted in corrective action and improved financial management at the local government level.
Mr Aborbi-Ayitey said members were required to review internal audit reports, monitor the implementation of recommendations and ensure weaknesses in internal controls were addressed promptly.
He urged members to maintain independence and objectivity, stressing that the committees should work with management to strengthen governance and financial systems rather than be viewed as adversaries.
“Every cedi entrusted to your assemblies represents public trust and must be properly accounted for and utilised for its intended purpose,” he said.
Mr Aborbi-Ayitey also advised members to familiarise themselves with Sections 83 to 88 of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act, which outline the functions of Audit Committees.
Oversight Of Public Funds
Madam Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, said the significant volume of public resources channelled through MMDAs made effective financial oversight essential.
She said more than 80 percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) was transferred directly to MMDAs, placing a greater responsibility on the assemblies to account for the resources and ensure their proper use.
Madam Sowah urged the committees to pay particular attention to procurement, expenditure, revenue mobilisation, contract management, asset management and project implementation.
She said effective oversight in those areas would help minimise financial losses and prevent audit findings from recurring.
“An audit recommendation has little value if it remains on paper; its true value lies in the corrective action that follows,” she said.
Performance To Be Measured By Results
Reverend Harry Nii Kwatei Owoo, Chief Director of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, who represented the Regional Minister, urged the committees to demonstrate objectivity, integrity, professionalism and diligence in the discharge of their duties.
He said their performance should be assessed by the improvements they brought to the financial and operational systems of the assemblies rather than the number of meetings they held.
Rev. Owoo encouraged the committees to focus on risk management, internal controls, procurement processes, financial management and the implementation of both internal and external audit recommendations.
The five-member committees comprise three independent members, one nominated by the IAA and two by the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana and two members nominated by management.
The members took the Oath of Office and Oath of Secrecy and completed conflict-of-interest declarations during the inauguration.
The committees are expected to serve as a link between internal audit functions and management by following through on identified weaknesses and recommendations to strengthen accountability and financial management within the assemblies.
