The Auditor General, Mr. Daniel Yaw Dumelovo has given a stern warning to institutions, individuals and all stakeholders to desist from corrupting the service and its personnel in order to allow them discharge their constitutionally mandated duty, to which they are professionally committed.

He indicated that, individuals and institutions attempt to induce them with money and other gestures with the view of securing favorable comments from them.

He said people are of the view that, if they make financial offers to auditors, they would in turn give favorable reports about them and in some cases covers their evil deeds up, but he warned them that he and his men will not kowtow to temptations.

Speaking at the 8th Annual Accountability Lectures of the Ghana Audit Service as part of the launch of the 2018 Accountability Week celebrations, the Auditor General decried the several attempts by institutions and individuals to either gag auditors or influence them to compromise the truth, adding that they remain resolute on their mandate in contributing to the general development of Ghana through protecting the public purse, warning “lead my people not into temptation”.

He said, the general public and all stakeholders should not think that if one do not give monies to the auditor, he or she will adverse things about him or her, adding that, if people feel that audit reports are unfair against them, they can appeal through the structures.

He further decried the bad treatment meted to internal auditors of institutions and MMDAs with the view to either make them non-functional, compromised or leave them ‘toothless’.

It is the case that internal auditors of government institutions are victimized often in relation to their work, others sent on transfers aimed at covering up corruptible deeds or systematically rendered non-functional, all intended to ‘shut them up, advising his men to refrain from demanding or accepting bribes in the performance of their duties.

Reminding them that auditors who fail to report infractions and irregularities will be made to face punitive actions as stated in Section 33 of Act 584.

In view of this, there is consideration to re-align the internal audit sections of public institutions to guarantee their autonomy from management of those institutions.

He indicated that all internal auditors in these institutions are representing the Finance Ministry, per the Constitution and not the institutions that they find themselves.

He also disclosed that, audit of 2017 accounts of MMDAs has begun and the service will engage private firms to help in the audit process, especially dealing with surcharges and disallowances.

To that end, guideline framework has been developed as rules of engagement by which institutions to be contracted would have to agree to, and abide by same.

The ceremony which was under the theme “Protecting the Public Purse – Our Commitment Towards Ghana’s Development” was graced by the Vice President H. E. Alhaji Dr. Mahmoudu Bawumia, with the Auditor General, the Deputy Finance Minister Hon. Abena Osei Asare, and Hon James Klutse Avedzi, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament as Speakers.

Story: Frederick E. Aggrey

 

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