Mass Inauguration of Health Sector Audit Committees Scheduled for May 9, 2023
The Internal Audit Authority (IAA), in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), is set to inaugurate the Audit Committees of Health Sector Institutions on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. The IAA’s Director-General, Dr. Eric Oduro Osae, signed a statement announcing that Covered Entities, including Health Sector Institutions, should have Audit Committees to implement sound control systems in the use of public funds, as required by Sections 86-88 of the Public Financial Management Act 2016 (Act 921).
The IAA has observed that most Health Sector Institutions are operating without functional Audit Committees, a violation of Ghana’s financial management laws. Therefore, the IAA, established under the Internal Audit Agency Act, 2003 (Act 658), has mandated that Covered Entities have functioning Audit Committees under the Guidelines for Effective Functioning of Audit Committees (2023).
To improve financial governance and internal control systems in Health Sector Institutions, the IAA, in collaboration with the GHS, will undertake a mass inauguration of newly reconstituted Audit Committees for all Health Sector Institutions. The Regional Health Directors and Internal Auditors are directed to support the process.
It is important to note that operating without a functional Audit Committee is an offence under Section 98(1) (d) of the PFM Act 2016 (Act 921). The IAA urges all stakeholders, especially Internal Auditors, to support the inauguration process.
The mass inauguration of the Audit Committees for Health Sector Institutions under the GHS will take place on May 9, 2023, at the designated regional centres across the country. For the most part, these centres are hotels, training centres, or auditorium complexes. The venues are as follows:
- Greater Accra Region: Miklin Hotel East Legon, Accra
- Upper East and North East Regions: J.K. Awoonor Williams in Service Training and Conference Centre, Bolgatanga
- Upper West Region: SEM-B Hotel in Wa
- Northern and Savannah Regions: Tamale Metro Assembly in Tamale
- Volta Region: Regional Health Directorate Training Centre in Ho
- Western and Western North Regions: Akroma Plaza in Takoradi
- Ahafo, Bono, and Bono East Regions: In-Service Training Centre near the Bono Regional Hospital, Sunyani
- Ashanti Region: TUC Hall in Kumasi
- Central Region: Regional Health Directorate Auditorium Complex in Cape Coast
- Eastern Region: Ascension Hall in Koforidua
In summary, the IAA’s mass inauguration of Health Sector Audit Committees in collaboration with the GHS aims to improve financial governance and internal control systems in Health Sector Institutions. All stakeholders, especially Internal Auditors, are encouraged to support the process.