The 6th Annual Regional Conference of Association of Ghana Education Service (GES) internal auditors was opened at the Eredec Hotel in Koforidua under the theme: “The Efficiency of The Internal Auditor in Ensuring Sound Financial Administration; The Role of Management”.

Starting from the 17th to the 20th June 2008, participants would use the conference to brainstorm the efficient ways of performing their duties as auditors in the G.E.S. Topics slated to be discussed include: treasury re-alignment- the role of the internal auditor, the public procurement Act-what the auditor needs to know, modern techniques in auditing, special audit requirements and a field trip to an educational institution for participants to acquaint themselves to its operations.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Kwadwo Affram Aseidu declaring the conference opened said Government believes that citizens are the most valued assets of the Nation and that, the development of the human resource was very necessary for the socio-economic development of the country.

He added that it was for this reason that a greater proportion of Government funds were allocated to the education sector. Hon. Affram Aseidu mentioned accountability, “As internal auditors, Government expects that you will as part of your responsibility, mentor and ensure the appropriate utilization of funds released for specific projects or programmes” he stressed.

Mr. Kofi P. Ntiamoah who delivered the keynote address on behalf of the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs. Akosua T. Adu stressed that roles played by both internal auditors and management in ensuring efficiency in financial administration cannot be over emphasized for which the two must co- ordinate their activities and functions to promote efficiency at all times.

In his welcome address, the Regional chairman of the Association of G.E.S internal auditors Mr. Adolph A.K. Gatorwu said Government had by the internal Audit Agency Act 2003 (Act 658) established and internal audit agency as an apex oversight body to co-ordinate, facilitate and provide quality and transparency in the management of resources in public sector.

He added that in Government efforts to reduce institutional fraud, corruption and waste in the public sector enacted three major acts namely: the public procurement Act 2003 (Act 633), Internal Audit Agency Act (Act 658) and Financial Administration Act (Act 654). Mr Gatorwu confessed that without these laws internal auditors cannot perform their duties to the maximum.

The Association of G.E.S Internal Auditors E/R was formerly known as conference of G.E.S Internal Auditors when formed in 1998. This however, changed from the former to the latter when the audit unit was decentralized to the District offices in 1997 in order to conform to the National name adopted in October 2006.

Source : Samuel Owusu Yeboah (ISD)

Posted : 28/08/08

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