Audit Committees inaugurated to strengthen financial controls in Greater Accra

Newly inaugurated Audit Committees for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region have been tasked with strengthening financial controls and ensuring the prudent management of public funds. The committees were inaugurated by the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) in Accra to enhance accountability and transparency at the local government level.

Bismark Aborbi-Ayitey, Deputy Director-General of the IAA, emphasized that these committees must provide oversight by reviewing internal audit reports, monitoring the implementation of recommendations, and addressing weaknesses in financial systems to prevent losses. He urged members to maintain independence and objectivity, suggesting they act as partners in good governance rather than adversaries to management.

Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, noted that the responsibility for oversight has increased because more than 80 percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) is now transferred directly to MMDAs. She stressed that effective financial management is essential to ensure these resources are translated into tangible development.