Auditor-General’s COVID audit omissions worrying for anti-corruption fight – CDD-Ghana

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has expressed concern over omissions in the Auditor-General's COVID-19 expenditure audit, which could undermine Ghana's anti-corruption efforts. Programmes Officer for Elections, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption at CDD-Ghana, Vera Abena Addo, stated on JoyNews’ Newsfile that civil society organisations, Parliament, and citizens rely on the Auditor-General's reports to monitor public fund usage and promote accountability.

Addo emphasized that the Auditor-General's role is critical in Ghana's accountability framework, as CSOs, Parliament, and citizens heavily depend on their reports. She expressed worry that if the Auditor-General's reports contain omissions, it raises questions about their reliability. CDD-Ghana and other anti-corruption organisations had relied on the Auditor-General's recommendations for their follow-up work in 24 districts, funded by the European Union and implemented by SODIL Ghana, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), and Transparency International Ghana.

While acknowledging that errors can occur, Addo stressed the need for a clear explanation from the Audit Service regarding the scale of the omissions identified by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni. She expressed concern that the difference between the figures in the Auditor-General's report and those identified by Awuni is too significant, extending beyond the potential financial loss to broader implications for institutions combating corruption.

Addo emphasized that the Audit Service's response to Awuni's findings had not adequately addressed these concerns.