Whistle Blowers Bill would
add impetus to accountability - Baah-Wiredu
Accra, Nov. 29, GNA – Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu,
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, on
Wednesday said the passage of the Whistle
Blowers Bill and the establishment of a
Financial Administration Tribunal to deal with
financial indiscipline would add more impetus to
accountability and improve the work of auditors.
Additionally, the establishment of the Office of
Accountability was to ensure that public office
holders became more accountable for their
actions and inactions, he said.
He was opening the first Internal Audit Forum on
the theme: “Improving Public Financial
Management, Internal Auditing as an Accounting
and Management Control Tool.”
Mr Baah-Wiredu who represented the Vice
President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, said what was
required to make the office of accountability
work to the general satisfaction of all was the
maximum cooperation from the public, advice and
suggestion to enhance its operations.
“The commitment of the government to improvement
in the public financial management is
demonstrated by a number of programmes such as
the expenditure control system and reform
initiatives which are geared towards enhancing
controls, strengthening transparency and
accountability in the area of public financial
management,” he said.
The Finance Minister said government would
further intensify and sustain its fight by
strengthening institutions such as the
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative
Justice, Audit Service, Internal Audit Agency
and the Serious Fraud Office in terms of
budgetary allocation, human capacity development
and logistics.
“One cannot talk about sound financial
management without mentioning internal auditing
which fundamentally aims at achieving greater
efficiency in governmental operations, reduce
and prevent opportunities for fraud and
corruption and check leakages and waste in
public resources,” he said.
Mr Baah-Wiredu noted that waste and misuse of
public resources were potential threats to
providing opportunities and benefits to the
citizenry.
He expressed worry about the recent statement by
the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) which rated
Ghana 3.3 in corruption perception index, saying
it did not portray a good image for the country.
Mr Baah-Wiredu urged Auditors to facilitate
information in institutions like Controller and
Accountant General’s Department, Internal
Revenue Service and the Customs, Excise and
Preventive Service for improvement in their
operations.
“Initiate policies and be at the forefront to
advice management of public institutions in
areas of internal controls, risk management
practices and good corporate governance.”
Mr Baah-Wiredu said the auditor and head of
institution were in principle at the forefront
of the various organizations with common goals
of seeking the realization of the objectives and
adding value in areas of improving financial
management and fighting corrupt practices.
“Transparency in public sector decision making
and policy implementation reduces uncertainty.
It can also help inhibit corruption among public
officials,” he said.
Mr Samuel Crabbe, Chairman of Internal Audit
Agency Board, who also chaired the function,
said the objective of the forum was to provide a
platform for public sector internal auditors and
chief executives of public institutions to
interact and share experiences, information and
ideas.
He said two basic issues - safeguarding of
public sector assets and cash management - would
feature prominently at the forum, noting that a
lot of concerns had been expressed on how
government properties had been documented and
safeguarded.
“We need to design an appropriate audit strategy
to audit and report on government property in
public institutions,” Mr Crabbe said.
He expressed hope that the forum would assist in
accelerated development of the public sector
internal auditing and promote good governance in
the area of public financial management.
Mr Edward Dua Agyemang, Auditor-General, said
his Office was collaborating with the
Accountant-General’s Office to ensure efficiency
and effectiveness in the public sector.
GNA
