Speaking on the topic, ‘How the Work of the Internal Auditor Can Assist the External Auditor’ at the Annual National Conference of the Institute of Internal Auditors in Accra, Mr Quartey said chief internal auditors should have direct and unrestricted access to senior management and Board of Directors .He said this could be achieved through a dual reporting relationship.
He explained internal auditors should be given unrestricted access to books of account and other management information to enable them to properly evaluate management activities, and management must also be seen to be supportive of the internal audit function.
To enhance the role of internal in corporate governance, Mr Quartey stressed that management should place emphasis on the capability of internal audit in providing assurance to management and the board on the integrity of information flows, including the monitoring of all internal systems such as internal control, risk management, the communication processes and the provision of timely advice to management and the board.
He advised that internal auditors be encouraged to demonstrate their proficiency by obtaining appropriate professional certifications and qualifications.
In an address, the Director General of the Internal Audit Agency, Mr Kwabena Obese-Jecty, said the Agency was set up by an act of Parliament, Act 2003 (ACT 658) to co-ordinate, facilitate, monitor and supervise internal audit activities within MDAs and MMDAs in order to secure quality assurance of internal audit within these institution and set standards and procedures for the conduct of internal audit activities in MDAs and MMDAs.
Mr Obese-Jecty said it has been over 10 years since the Internal Audit Agency started operations and have chalked significant successes along the way.
He said some of the achievement includes the facilitation of the creation of internal audit units in MDAs and MMDAs; training and capacity building for internal auditors; publication of internal audit manuals; education and sensitisation of management and the general public on Enterprise Risk Management and the functions and roles of internal audit.
The two day conference was by over 200 internal auditors from the MDAs, MMDAs and other public institutions across the country.
Source: Public Agenda
By Mandela Okai, Freelance Journalist
