Internal auditors undergo training on accountable governance

Takoradi, Feb. 4, GNA - Internal auditors in the metropolitan, municipal and districts assemblies (MMDAs) of the Western Region have undergone a capacity building programme to improve their auditing skills and enhance accountability and transparency at the local level.

The programme is part of the 255,000 Euros support given to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development by the French Government as part of efforts to strengthen the accountability of Ghana's central and local government administration.

Addressing the participants at a two-day capacity building workshop in Takoradi, Mr Simon Bokor, Dean of Management, Development and Training at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), called on internal auditors at the MMDAs to constitute a three-five year strategic auditing plan which would guide them to ensure efficient monitoring and evaluation of resources allocated to the assemblies.

He appealed to them to formulate monthly and annual audit plans as well as reporting regularly to the external auditors on their activities to ensure quality assurance for reviews.

Mr Bokor said the Region would be divided into three zones, namely the southern, central and northern sectors, where each zone would constitute a team to mentor members so that they could perform to the standards expected of them.

He said peer training and professional networks was crucial and urged participants to avail themselves for more training and also upgrade themselves academically, in order to be useful to the society at large.

Mr Alexander Zormelo, Regional Head of the Internal Auditing Units, said the success of the training programme, being piloted in the Region, would determine whether it would be extended to other regions in the country.

He advised the auditors of the various MMDAs to strictly comply with the law as stipulated in the Local Government Act, Act 462 of 1993, (Section 120), without fear or favour.

Mr Solomon Asiedu, the Regional Chief Director, in a speech read on his behalf, said his outfit would monitor the progress of the auditors to ascertain their compliance.

The ILGS, which is the implementing partner, has been tasked to develop some action plans, including supporting the coordination functions of the RCC, strengthening auditing at the MMDAs, focusing attention on monitoring and evaluation at the local level as well as supporting the participation of women and civil society organisations in the local governance processes.

GNA