The Institute of Internal Auditors, Ghana, on Thursday donated a cheque for GHC10,000.00, to the COVID-19 National Trust Fund to support the Government towards the fight against the pandemic.

Mr Daniel Kofi Quampah, the President of the Institute, who presented the cheque, said whilst the Government was doing its best to contain the pandemic, others need to support as “the government cannot do it alone.”

The donation was expected to help speed up the fight against the disease and eradicate it as soon as possible.

He urged auditors to uphold the highest professional standards of integrity in their practice and promote an ethical culture in their organisations.

“Internal auditors must, therefore, bring a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes.”

Mr Quampah, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the presentation, said when internal auditors upheld those principles, it would establish trust in them and provide the basis for reliance on their judgements.

“We must exhibit the highest level of professional objectivity in the gathering, evaluating, and the communicating of information about the activity or the process being examined.”

Mr Quampah explained that internal auditing must add value and improve an organisation's operations.

“As Internal Auditors, we must make balanced assessment of all the relevant circumstances and not be unduly influenced by our own interests or by others in forming judgements”.

It was also imperative, he said, for them to respect the value and ownership of the information they received.

“Do not disclose information without the approval of the appropriate authority, unless there is a legal or professional obligation to do so”.

He advised them against engaging in illegal activities or in acts that were discreditable to the profession and the organisation they worked for.

Justice Sophia Akufo, the Chairperson of the COVID-19 National Trust Fund, who received the donation, gave the assurance that it would be well utilised towards fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA Ghana) is registered as a non-for profit professional organisation dedicated to the development and expansion of the practice of internal auditing.

It is a full-fledged affiliate of the global internal audit family.