36. With reference to the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), discu
ID: 2528889 • Letter: 3
Question
36. With reference to the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), discuss the following: a) Provisions in respect of Internal Audit as per Section 83 of the Act b) Audit Committee as per Sections 86 to 88 37. The Auditor-General or any person appointed by the Auditor-General to audit the accounts of statutory corporations shall issue an audit report and shall in addition draw attention to certain issues. Discuss both the content of the audit report and the issues he shall draw attention to
Explanation / Answer
(a) As per the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), every covered entity is required to have an Internal Audit Unit, and its head shall report to the Principal Spending officer (PSO) of the entity administratively and the Audit Committee functionally
An Internal Auditor shall have various functions namely:
The Internal Auditor shall prepare an annual audit work plan as per guidelines of Internal Audit Agency, which is to be submitted to the Agency and above authorities, and shall report on budgets, development initiatives, follow up on agreed audit recommendations and corrective actions, propriety of public expenditure, etc.
Internal Auditor shall have access to all information and explanations required, and submit quarterly reports to PSO, Audit Committee, Auditor-General and Director-General of Internal Audit Agency. He shall report suspected fraud to Principal Spending officer or Director-General, as the case may be, depending on who is involved in such frauds.
(b) Under this Act, an Audit Committee is required to be established for a particular covered entity or other covered entities in a sector, and the Minister shall specify details like number of Audit Committees to be established in each sector; qualification for appointment to, funding of and procedures for meetings of such Committee.
Audit Committee to consist of 5 members, with majority being independent, and nominated by Internal Audit Agency and Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana, not working in covered entity, rest 2 nominated by Principal Account Holder, who shall also elect a Chairperson from among independent members.
The Audit Committee shall ensure that the head of a covered entity
The Audit report issued by Auditor-General on statutory corporations shall broadly contain an Executive Summary, a statement of Audit Objectives and Audit approach, expected benefits / outcomes, a summary of irregularities and findings and recommendations, and lastly a statement of sector-wise (for each Ministry) findings.
Some of the issues an Audit report issued by Auditor-General shall draw attention to include tax and cash irregularities, outstanding debts/loans, Payroll and Contract Irregularities, Rent payment Irregularities and Stores/Procurement Irregularities, with a detailed description of the nature of irregularities and amounts involved, followed by a Ministry or Department wise list of observations.
(a) As per the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), every covered entity is required to have an Internal Audit Unit, and its head shall report to the Principal Spending officer (PSO) of the entity administratively and the Audit Committee functionally
An Internal Auditor shall have various functions namely:
- Reporting on soundness and application of controls in the entity
- Effectiveness of risk management and governance process
- Compliances with enactments, policies, procedures, etc.
The Internal Auditor shall prepare an annual audit work plan as per guidelines of Internal Audit Agency, which is to be submitted to the Agency and above authorities, and shall report on budgets, development initiatives, follow up on agreed audit recommendations and corrective actions, propriety of public expenditure, etc.
Internal Auditor shall have access to all information and explanations required, and submit quarterly reports to PSO, Audit Committee, Auditor-General and Director-General of Internal Audit Agency. He shall report suspected fraud to Principal Spending officer or Director-General, as the case may be, depending on who is involved in such frauds.
(b) Under this Act, an Audit Committee is required to be established for a particular covered entity or other covered entities in a sector, and the Minister shall specify details like number of Audit Committees to be established in each sector; qualification for appointment to, funding of and procedures for meetings of such Committee.
Audit Committee to consist of 5 members, with majority being independent, and nominated by Internal Audit Agency and Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana, not working in covered entity, rest 2 nominated by Principal Account Holder, who shall also elect a Chairperson from among independent members.
The Audit Committee shall ensure that the head of a covered entity
- Implements recommendations in internal audit report, Auditor General’s report and Management Letter, and internal reports
- Prepares an annual statement of status of implementation of above recommendations
- Such statement shall indicate remedial action proposed or taken, period of its completion, and forwarded to Minister, Parliament and President’s Office.
The Audit report issued by Auditor-General on statutory corporations shall broadly contain an Executive Summary, a statement of Audit Objectives and Audit approach, expected benefits / outcomes, a summary of irregularities and findings and recommendations, and lastly a statement of sector-wise (for each Ministry) findings.
Some of the issues an Audit report issued by Auditor-General shall draw attention to include tax and cash irregularities, outstanding debts/loans, Payroll and Contract Irregularities, Rent payment Irregularities and Stores/Procurement Irregularities, with a detailed description of the nature of irregularities and amounts involved, followed by a Ministry or Department wise list of observations.
Related Questions
drjack9650@gmail.com
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.