Gov’t allocates US$1.5 million to automate Audit Service

Accra, Feb. 26, GNA — The Audit Service has been allocated US$ 1.5 million dollars to automate its auditing processes as part of the Public Financial Management Policy and the ongoing Public Management Reforms, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, he disclosed.

He said an additional US$ 500,000 dollars had been set aside for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training of staff of the Audit Service.

He said automating the public sector institutions would help in protecting the public purse and ensure value for money.

Vice President Bawumia made the disclosure at the Eight Annual Accountability Lectures and Launching of the 2017 Audit Financial Year of the Ghana Audit Service, in Accra, on Monday.

The event was held on the theme: “Protecting the Public Purse: Our Commitment towards Ghana’s Development Agenda”.

It brought together Senior Auditors, Economists, Financial Analysts, Chief Directors of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the Diplomatic community.

The Vice President said the Government had shown commitment in resourcing the Audit Service, adding that, that was demonstrated by increasing the budget funding of the Service from GH¢ 14 million to GH¢ 19 million in 2017, and further increased it to GH¢ 35 million in the 2018 financial year.

He said the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor was in line with government’s determination to curb corruption in the public sector, and urged the Audit Service to work collaboratively with the latter in ensuring sound financial management.

Vice President Bawumia said the posture of the Auditor-General was positive and that would help in curtailing financial malfeasance in the public sector.

He said government had firm conviction that, the work of the Auditor-General and the Special Prosecutor would be enhanced when the public had unfettered access to information.

In that regard, he said, the President had directed work on the Right to Information Bill to be expedited for passage into law because access to information was critical in enhancing transparency and curbing corruption in the public sector.

“The government is following with keen interest the work of the Auditor-General and other stakeholders on the need to strengthen and enhance transparency in the implementation of Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution and the Public Office Holders Declaration of Assets and Disqualification Act of 1998,” he observed.

Vice President Bawumia noted that, if the Asset Declaration System is managed well, it would contribute immensely towards purging corruption in the public sector.

He said government was pleased with the attempt by the Public Procurement Authority to strengthen public procurement processes, intended to curb the abuse of sole-sourcing in the country’s laws.

He said government would continue to be vigilant in public procurement management in order to safeguard value for money.

Under the ongoing Public Management Reforms, he said, government had introduced a number of automated platforms to enhance efficiency in service delivery in the public sector.

These include the implementation of the National Identification Scheme, National Digital Property Addressing System, Tax Identification Number System, the deployment of the VAT-Registered businesses, Tax and Incubator Revenue Processing System, Revenue and Self-Assessment System and the Paperless Ports System, to facilitate ports transactions.

GNA

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