By Dorothy Agyeman
The State Interest and Governance Authority, SIGA has identified Procurement irregularities, misappropriation and risk management as some of the causes of infractions and malfeasance raised in the 2021 Audit Report.
To this effect, an investigation was conducted and a joint report by SIGA and the Audit Service on the causes, solutions and recommendations has been presented to the Government.
The Director-General of SIGA, Mr. Edward Boateng said the report calls for a high degree of commitment to the recommendations stated.
On 3rd October, 2022, the President directed the Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority, SIGA to work with the Auditor-General to within four weeks investigate the causes of the infractions in the 2021 Audit report.
The number of weeks were extended due to the intensification of the infractions. SIGA was also expected to also recommend actions to be taken in line with laws governing such misconduct. In the report, a total of 17.4billion cedis in financial irregularities were flagged by the Auditor-General in its latest report.
Today, the Authority together with the Auditor-General engaged the Public Procurement Authority, Internal Audit Agency, Controller and Accountant General, Chief Executives on the findings of the investigation conducted. The report which contains the causes, solutions and recommendations was presented to the Government through the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.
The Director-General of State Interests and Governance Authority, SIGA Mr. Edward Boateng said the various SOEs which fail to comply with the recommendations will face sanctions.
The Minister for Public Enterprises, Mr. Joseph Cudjoe said as part of sanctions, the report recommends to the Ministry of Finance to use withholding of budget releases as a punitive measure for non-compliance. He said not all the infractions are a case of corruption but rather compliance.
The Chief of Staff, Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare said the government expects all SOEs to collaborate with SIGA and the office of the Auditor-General to urgently clear the back lock accounts before the year ends.
The Deputy Auditor-General, Mr. Godfred Addison urged all state entities to pay attention to their management accounts and failure to submit unaudited accounts by 28th February, 2023 will lead to the publication of names in the dailies.
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