Richard Quartey Appointed Auditor-General

Mr Richard Quartey

President John Evans Atta Mills, acting in consultation with the Council of State, has appointed Mr Richard Quartei Quartey as the Auditor General.

The appointment, according to a letter dated August 4, 2010 and signed by Mr J.K Bebaako-Mensah, Secretary to the President, said the appointment is in accordance with Article 70 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic.

Until his appointment, Mr Quartey functioned as the acting Auditor General following the retirement of his predecessor, Mr Edward Duah-Agyemang.

In his maiden interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Auditor General pledged to lead a team to work to transform the Audit Service into an efficient, dynamic and cost-effective institution worthy of its sort and in good stead to meet public expectations.

“Not only will I commit myself and the team that I lead to the pursuit of new Audit methodology such as value for money audit, forensic audit, but will also ensure that the service is more dignified and attractive enough to secure and retain very competent staff who will be dedicated to safeguarding and protecting public resources” he promised.

Mr Quartey noted that given the deepening of Ghana’s democratic process, it was imperative to adopt a work posture and methodology that would bring the audit service closer to the doors of the people by, among others, expanding the reach of the service from its current presence in only 68 districts of the country to as many more of the 170 districts as possible.

He also pledged to enforce a zero tolerance for corruption and other acts of malfeasance and professional misconduct from personnel of the service and served notice of his determination to enforce the oath of secrecy and code of conduct of the audit staff to help transform the fortunes of the service.

Mr Quartey who is a qualified Chattered Accountant has worked with the Audit Service for the over 30 years in different capacities and departments and has also undertaken several audit and investigative assignments for the United Nations including UNICEF, UN Pension Fund, International Criminal Tribunal, among others.

Mr Quartey, 56, is a keen follower of Accra Hearts of Oak and is married with three children with interest in reading and visiting places of interest.