Tamale: The Ministry of Finance has conducted a training workshop aimed at equipping public institutions with enhanced skills and practical knowledge to bolster accountability systems and improve audit outcomes. This initiative also seeks to support Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in minimizing audit infractions while delivering better value for money to citizens.
According to Ghana News Agency, the two-day workshop held in Tamale was attended by representatives from Regional Coordinating Councils, the Internal Audit Agency, the Public Procurement Authority, and technical officers from MMDAs across the Northern, Savannah, and Oti Regions. This effort is part of the Ministry of Finance's larger strategy to ensure compliance with public financial management laws, enhance transparency in public resource utilization, and build resilient institutions capable of driving sustainable development.
Mr. Ali Adolf John, the Northern Regional Minister, addressed the participants during the opening of the training on Monday. He called on MMDAs to fortify accountability systems, enforce financial discipline, and enhance adherence to public financial management regulations to curb recurring audit infractions. Mr. John raised concerns over the persistent financial irregularities highlighted annually in the Auditor-General's reports, including procurement breaches, weak internal controls, poor documentation, unauthorized expenditures, and non-compliance with financial regulations.
He emphasized that these recurring infractions undermine public confidence in public institutions and negatively impact efforts aimed at improving service delivery and accelerating development. Mr. John urged public officers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct in managing public resources.