The Board Chairman of the Ghana Audit Service, Prof. Edward Dua Agyeman has assured staff of the Service that the governing Board will do all it could to assist the Service to deliver on the task of protecting state resources.

Prof. Agyeman made the statement during a staff durbar organised by Management of the Service for employees in Greater Accra. The forum was a platform for staff and Management to interact. Members of the Board were all present. This was the first time the Board of the Service attended the forum which though it’s an annual event.

Present at the durbar were Board members, Deputy Auditors-General, district, branch and unit heads within the Greater Accra Region.

The Chairman said the responsibility of the Auditor-General (A-G) and the Service is an arduous one that requires a lot of resources and total support from all. For this reason, the Board will use every power available to mobilise needed material and logistical support to ensure that the Service performs to meet public expectations.

Speaking at the same forum, the A-G, Mr. Daniel Yaw Domelevo commended staff for contributing to the success of the Service in 2018. He appealed to them to be punctual at the workplace. He said “take note that work starts at 8 o’clock and so make punctuality one of your goals for the New Year”. Mr. Domelevo reiterated his point further by saying “I will pay unannounced visits, so beware”.

The A-G urged the staff to be ethical, firm but fair in dealing with clients. He reminded the employees, particularly field staff to enforce the provisions in the Audit Service Regulations (C.I. 70) which enjoins auditors to receive written responses from all audit queries before exiting the audit location. Furthermore, he encouraged staff to “educate the clients on section 29 of Act 584 which demands sanctions of persons who do not respond to management letters within 30 days. I am willing to block the salaries until they respond” he added.

The A-G appealed to regional and district auditors to take advantage of the decentralized financial management system to plan and access their funds early to enable them meet timelines. “Effective planning will ensure quality work”, he posited.

Mr. Domelevo disclosed that, with the Board’s support, the Service has established a new unit tasked to receive public information and complaints.

He took the opportunity to introduce a new Deputy Auditor-General, Mr. Z. M. Ali responsible for the audit of public educational institutions.

The Greater Accra Regional Auditor, Mr. Robert K. Fiadzoe, thanked the Board and Management for the assurances and pledged the commitment of the staff to remain professional.