Ghana's Auditor-General, Dr. Pamela Graham, has announced plans to introduce an electronic tracking system to monitor the implementation of recommendations contained in the Auditor-General's reports. The system, known as the e-tracker, aims to enable the public to monitor how Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as other public institutions, are addressing financial irregularities and other infractions identified by the Ghana Audit Service. This initiative is part of efforts to strengthen collaboration in the fight against corruption and promote accountability in the public sector.
Dr. Graham disclosed this during a visit to the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) and other anti-corruption institutions in Accra. She emphasized that identifying irregularities was not enough without concrete measures to ensure accountability. Although the reports are scrutinized by Parliament through the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), more needs to be done after the committee's hearings to ensure that the issues identified are properly investigated and resolved. The e-tracker is expected to provide an opportunity for the public to follow the recommendations made by the Audit Service and assess the extent to which public institutions are implementing them.
The Auditor-General noted that institutions such as the Internal Audit Agency and other relevant bodies have important roles to play in ensuring that infractions are not repeated. She added that the system would be given the necessary media attention once it is ready to ensure that citizens are adequately informed about how to access and use it. This move is aimed at addressing concerns over the limited follow-up actions after the publication of audit reports.
Dr. Graham also emphasized the importance of collaboration among anti-corruption institutions, civil society organizations, and the media. She argued that the Audit Service alone could not ensure that its findings translate into meaningful action. The Auditor-General stated that with everyone's collaboration, reading the reports, bringing out what is essential, and sharing it with the public, it would be a very good way to go.
The Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, welcomed the Auditor-General's engagement with anti-corruption institutions. She described it as a positive signal of her commitment to accountability and institutional collaboration. Mrs. Narteh noted that the Ghana Audit Service was a member of the GACC, making the engagement particularly significant in strengthening an existing partnership between the two institutions.
Mrs. Narteh, however, called for the engagement to go beyond courtesy visits, urging the Auditor-General's office to establish structured and periodic meetings with civil society organizations to facilitate information-sharing and identify areas requiring improvement. She also encouraged other public institutions, particularly those whose work directly affects citizens, to open their doors to collaboration, insisting that no institution could effectively deliver on its mandate in isolation.
The introduction of the e-tracking system is a significant step towards promoting accountability and transparency in the public sector. With the e-tracker, the public will be able to monitor the implementation of audit recommendations, and this is expected to lead to improved governance and reduced corruption in Ghana. The Auditor-General's office is expected to work closely with other institutions to ensure the successful implementation of the system.
Key points
- The e-tracking system will enable the public to monitor the implementation of audit recommendations.
- The system aims to promote accountability and transparency in the public sector.
- The Auditor-General's office will work closely with other institutions to ensure the successful implementation of the system.
