Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of Finance, has charged Internal Auditors to continue to hold onto the tenets of professional standards in the performance of their duties.

The minister urged the auditors to adhere to their mandates of ensuring that public resources were utilised effectively and efficiently.

He said this is in a speech read on his behalf at the closing ceremony of this year’s Annual Internal Audit Conference at the University of Professional Studies, Accra.

The two-day conference was on the theme “Consolidating Democratic Governance and Accountability; Role of Internal Auditors,” organised by the Internal Audit Agency (IAA).

The conference brought together key stakeholders in the public sector internal audit space, including heads of public institutions and audit committees, among others, to chart the way forward towards improving public sector internal audit performance. 

It also provided an opportunity for the Agency to update stakeholders on developments in the Public Sector Internal Audit space and facilitate the exchange of ideas, experiences, and challenges facing internal auditors and audit committees. 

The Minister was convinced that the theme had been explored and confident that Internal Auditors had gained valuable insights to ensure development in the sector.

He urged the participants to implement the knowledge they had acquired and make a positive impact in ensuring sound financial management in the public institutions.

Mr Amin pledged Government’s commitment to support internal auditors to consolidate gains in the financial sector and ensure a good governance system in the public sector.

He encouraged them to be committed in the discharge of the responsibilities, adding “Without commitment, it will be difficult to succeed as internal auditors.”

Dr Eric Osae, Director General of IAA, called for the amendment of the Internal Audit Act to give power to the Agency to prosecute its members on financial irregularities quarterly.

He said under the Public Financial Law, Internal Auditors are required to present their reports on a quarterly basis and that delays in prosecuting financial malfeasance may enable the perpetrator to run.

Mr Emmanuel P. Owusu, Director, Internal Audit, University of Cape Coast, emerged as the Best Internal Auditor for the 2023/2024 auditing year.