'Develop Internal Auditing'

The second Ghana-Commonwealth Internal Audit Exchange Programme ended in Accra over the weekend with a call on senior officials to avoid big bang reforms so as to develop internal audit practices in their respective countries.

In addition, the senior internal auditors from about eight commonwealth countries including Sri Lanka, Samoa and Sierra Leone were told to help unlock and provide solutions to longstanding issues regarding internal auditing matters.  

Ivy Chikoti of the Commonwealth Secretariat implored the senior internal auditors to introduce a dosage of change.

“All of us must have observed during this programme that our countries are at varying levels of reform in internal controls and audit. I have no doubt that the activity has prepared you to be able to offer advice to your institutions on the way forward.

“Always review, evaluate and monitor systems,” she added.

Patrick Nomo, Director General, Internal Audit Agency on his part challenged the participants to look for opportunities to implement the new ideas, values, techniques and tools that were gained from the programme.

“Internal audit practice is one of the most indispensable elements of good corporate governance- providing value-adding assurance and advisory services to managements, audit committees and organisations. As internal auditors therefore, you are the first line of defence in ensuring that your organisations are on course to achieving their objectives.”

He again charged the internal auditors in their respective jurisdictions, to rise up to the challenge and use the training and experience in organisational risk management, control among others.  

The exchange programme was as a result of action plan drew from a similar programme in New Zealand early this year.

By Charles Nixon Yeboah