The Auditor-General- Ghana, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, has urged audit institutions across West Africa to go beyond traditional oversight roles and champion the cause of transparency, accountability and economic transformation.
He emphasised that the work of auditors must ultimately ensure that the public purse was protected to serve the public good.
“We are not just watchdogs, we are advocates of trust, transparency and accountability. Let us redefine public sector auditing as a tool for economic transformation and not merely fiscal correction.”
Mr Asiedu told participants during the third meeting of the ECOWAS Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ECOSAI) in Accra.
The October 8-10 meeting brought together representatives from countries such as Ghana, Guinea, Senegal and Sierra Leone to strengthen cooperation among Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in the region.
Tangible improvement
Mr Asiedu emphasised the need for innovation in audit practices, particularly through the adoption of digital systems, to enhance efficiency, reduce human error and ensure real-time monitoring of public expenditure.
Guests at the 3rd Meeting of the ECOWAS Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions in Accra. Picture: SAMUEL TEI ADANO
“An informed citizen is a powerful ally in the fight against waste and corruption, calling for greater civic engagement in the accountability processes.”
He further stressed that effective audits must translate into tangible improvements in the management of public resources, saying,“Our goal is not just efficiency, but efficiency with impact ensuring that every public investment delivers maximum value to communities.”
Synergy
In her address, the Chairperson of Ghana’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei-Asare, highlighted the synergy between parliamentary oversight and the work of audit institutions, noting that both played complementary roles in safeguarding public resources.
“We acknowledge the vital role that supreme audit institutions play in promoting accountability and transparency.
Together, we will ensure that public resources are used responsibly and that accountability remains at the heart of governance,” she said.
Ms Osei-Asare reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening ties with ECOSAI in the collective pursuit of good governance.
She noted that as ECOWAS celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, the region must reflect on its journey and confront the growing challenges of insecurity, economic hardship and disillusionment among the youth.
“Accountability in public finance is not optional, it is the lifeblood of sustainable development.
Public officials must be held to the highest standards of responsibility in managing funds and making fiscal decisions in line with established principles,” she stated.
Accountability
Representing the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Audit Committee, Dr Joao A. Mamadu Fadia commended the collaboration among member states and reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment to supporting ECOSAI’s mandate.
He said that since its establishment in 2019, ECOSAI had provided a platform for experience sharing, capacity building and collective efforts to improve public financial management.
“By leveraging our collective expertise, we can enhance accountability, improve governance and ensure that regional resources are used for the benefit of our citizens,” he said.