Effective Report Writing training for internal editors ends in Bo
The Effective Report Writing for Internal Auditors of the various Local Councils which was organized by the Internal Audit Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has ended at the Dohas Hotel in Bo. The program started on the 25th March and ended on March 28th 2014.
In his remarks the representative of the Acting Coordinator of the Integrated Public Administration Unit {IPAU] at MoFED Sheik Sesay, said the IPAU project’s is to support the effort and plan of the reduction, Government to promote inclusive and sustainable growth and poverty reduction, through support to PFM reform and private sector development. He went on to say that the specific objectives are to:
Strengthen transparency and accountability in the use of public resources through organizational and human resource capacity building of local Councils and oversight and integrity institutions, and [11] promote private sector development through business enabling reform, and capacity building of small and Medium Enterprises and private sector support institutions.
He pointed out that one key output under the project is strengthening local government PFM capacity, noting that at the outcome level of the project results chain, one of the three outcomes to be achieved by the end of 2014 “ improved fiscal discipline, efficiency and effectiveness of public expenditure in local councils.” Sheik Sesay, noted that Internal Auditors are very key in contributing to the achievement of this outcome which is based on PEFA indicator P1 26 and assesses the effectiveness of the scope, nature & follow up of external audit recommendations, if any at all.
He said that the project has four main components which are mutually reinforcing {1] strengthening transparency and accountability in public financial management, [11] improving extractive industries governance; [111] improving business enabling environment for private sector development, and [IV] project management.
He disclosed that component 1 has 2 sub- components, the first of which is strengthening local council PFM, stating that the objective of this sub-component is to address organizational and human resource capacity constrains in local councils in particular weaknesses identified in local council PEFA of 2010. The IPAU representative said the project therefore includes:
(1) short- term local training for 19 internal auditors, 19 budget officers and 19 finance officers; {11] basic PFM training for non – PFM officers [over 200 people] including councilors, paramount chiefs, chief Administrators and project managers to enhance their awareness of PFM issues; [111] Training on gender budgeting ; { iv] Technical assistance to transfer skills and knowledge on local council PFM through funding two long-term PFM experts to support the implementation of local council PFM and {v] The project will also provide office furniture, equipment, vehicle and generators to complement the roll out of PETRA accounting system above have a direct bearing:
“Improved PEFA score relating to scope, and follow –up of external audit recommendations from [D] in 2010 to [c] in 2014”
He said that a pre- requisite for achieving this indicator not limited to it is the availability of qualified internal auditors in the local councils with adequate training with conducive and friendly work environment, noting that adequate provision is made under the project for the Ministry of Finance Internal Audit Division to continue to mentor and coach the LC Internal Auditors in addition to providing them with office equipment such as laptops and printers.
Sheik Sesay, concluded by stating that IPAU as a coordinating unit, will wish to use the opportunity to admonish colleagues in the Internal Audit Department at MoFED and all key stakeholders to keep in view the urgency of achieving these results in order to support the strengthening and improvement of the Government’s results agenda.
In his remarks Senior Auditor in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Abdul Rahman Koroma, reiterated the view that to whom much is given much is expected and went on to admonish the Local Council Auditors to be proactive in the discharge of their duties. He noted that they are all aware of their roles in the various councils, noting that they should be carrying out audit in assessing the designs of systems of controls thereby safe guarding the assets of the councils.
He explained that the overall assessment of PEFA was not good for the past three to four years since 2010, noting that they no longer want to be mark down. He said training of such a nature will help them to acquire knowledge which they will implement in discharging their duties in Local councils. He cautioned that they no longer wants to be mark down, stating that he do believed that training of such a nature will help them to acquire knowledge, so that when they go back to their various councils they will implement what they have learnt.
Abdul Rahman, disclosed that it will not go down well if during visitations to the councils they fail to see what they are expecting as according to him external reviewers will also not be pleased as they are funding most of the activities organized for the internal auditors.
He concluded by admonishing them to take their work very seriously and ensured that they implement what they have been taught.
The Deputy Director Of internal Audit Department Sumaila Lansana and the facilitators made meaningful contributions. The event ended with presentation of certificates by the acting Director of Internal Audit at MoFED Kandeh Sesay.
By Hawanatu Bockari, SLENA/MoFED
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2014, https:. All rights reserved.
