A five-member delegation from the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) of ECOWAS Institutions came to Accra for a three-day study tour of the Ghana Audit Service.

The officials were in the country to study how the Service acquired and developed the Audit Management Information System (AMIS) as well as the use of the RSA Archer Software.

The AMIS is a web-based software designed to automate audit processes that provide an end-to-end functionality for managing the audit procedures: planning of audits, execution, monitoring the progress of audit assignment from a central point, and reporting amongst others.

The study tour is anticipated to provide the team with an on-site practical experience of the RSA Archer Audit Management Software; its benefits and challenges to enhance the knowledge, acquisition, and implementation of a similar software at the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) of ECOWAS Institutions located in Abuja, Nigeria.

Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Auditor-General, Mr. Benjamin Codjoe, Deputy Auditor-General in charge of Central Government Audits Department briefed the delegation about the mandate of the Auditor-General as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

He said the development of the AMIS was inspired by evolving nature of auditing as well as the need to integrate modern technology into the audit processes. The automated system, when rolled out, will enhance the Service’s level of compliance with International Standards for Supreme Audit Institutions and technology since most government institutions are also automating their processes.

Mr. Codjoe said the AMIS has been designed to suit the Service’s audit methodologies namely Financial Audit Methodology (FAM), Compliance Audit Methodology (CAM), IT Audit Methodology (ITAM) and Performance Audit Methodology (PAM).

The leader of the delegation, Mr. Richard Awunyo, stated it was important to undertake the study tour to sharpen their understanding of the system since the Office intends to acquire and role out a similar project.

He thanked Management of the Audit Service for the warm reception and the exposure.

Present to welcome the delegation were Mrs. Roberta Assiamah-Appiah (Deputy Auditor-General in charge of Educational Institutions Department (Southern Zone)), Mr. Mohammed Zakaria Ali (Deputy Auditor-General, Finance, Administration and Human Resources Department) Mr. Lawrence Ndaago Ayagiba (Deputy Auditor-General, Performance and Special Audits Department), Mr. John Godfred Kojo Addison (Deputy Auditor-General, Commercial Audits Department) Mr. Seidu Ahmed Kyei (Deputy Auditor-General, Educational Institutions Department (Northern Zone)), Mr. Patrick Neequaye (Assistant Auditor-General, in-charge of Information Technology (IT) Unit and some staff of the Service.