Minister ask MDAs,
assemblies to adopt internal checks
Tamale, Aug 21, Ghanadot/GNA – Government Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and District Assemblies
have been urged to adopt internal checks to ensure that
public sector dealings are collectively certified by
persons who participate in such transactions and not by
Chief Executive Officers alone.
The internal checks system if strictly adhered to would
minimise defalcations and irregularities that often
occur in the public sector.
Mr Stephen Sumani Nayina, Northern Regional Minister,
made the suggestion in a speech read on his behalf at a
day’s workshop organised by the Ghana Audit Service and
other stakeholders, in Tamale on Wednesday.
The workshop among other issues deliberated on the
outcome of the Messer Ernest Young Chartered Accountants
audit of the Government of Ghana accounts for 2006 and
2007, under the Multi-Donor Budget Support (MDBS)
arrangement.
Mr. Nayina explained that by the internal check system,
"Internal and external auditor's roles in ensuring
probity and accountability in public institutions would
be minimised and raise the credibility of our public
institutions".
He urged the MDAs and the Assemblies to judiciously
utilize financial support from Ghana’s development
partners since the funds came from taxes paid by
citizens of donor countries.
Mr. Nayina warned public servants to be circumspect in
their transactions to avoid falling foul of the law.
Nii Abbey Abbey, the Regional Auditor, said the Messer
Ernest Young Chartered Accountants report had exposed
lapses in the public sector.
These he said included irregular review of bank
reconciliations, failure to lodge internally generated
funds at the bank and the lack of records on such
moneys, improper accounts on advance/impress and the
lack of procurement unit in many institutions.
The Regional Auditor noted that the lapses could be
exploited to the detriment of the State and urged heads
of MDAs and Assemblies to ensure compliance with
internal control system to stem these deficiencies.
GNA
