46 Journalists undergo Auditor-General’s Report training

The Assistant Director of Audit, Frederick Lokko, says the stance has been taken because the public sector accountability initiative requires a multi-stakeholder approach, with the vigorous involvement of the media.

He has, therefore, urged journalists to seek a sound understanding of the Auditor-General’s Report and the roles of the Ghana Audit Service to enable them to analyse various aspects of the report effectively to the public.

Mr Lokko was speaking at a just-ended training workshop for 46 selected journalists from the southern sector of the country on the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report in Ho.

Organised by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, the two-day workshop was on the theme: “Building Evidence for Increased Accountability in Ghana through a Multi-Stakeholder Accountability Initiative”.

Mr Lokko pointed out that any erroneous reportage on the Auditor-General’s Report could cause chaos in the country, rather than put things right.

For that matter, he said the service would readily engage with the media to simplify comments on the report in plain language for public consumption.

He explained that the Ghana Audit Service did not have prosecutorial powers.

Mission

“Our mission is to promote good governance, transparency, accountability and probity in Ghana’s public financial management system by auditing according to international standards and reporting our audit results and recommendations to Parliament,” Mr Lokko explained.

Shedding light on audit reports, he said the use of appropriate language by the media was crucial for the public good.

For instance, Mr Lokko said certain financial irregularities in public sector institutions, highlighted in the Auditor-General’s Report, may not necessarily mean monies were stolen or lost.

“It may only be an indication that certain due processes were not followed by the institutions in revenue mobilisation, or just delays in the process,” he explained.

“In such instances, we need cautious reporting on the issue by the media to keep the public well informed on the issue,” he added.

He urged the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to follow due processes in optimising and mobilising revenue effectively.

Assistant Auditor-General, Patrick James Neequaye, entreated journalists to specialise in reporting on specific aspects of the Auditor-General’s Report to analyse its data, systems and context accurately.

Journalists, he said, could build partnerships at regional, national and international levels to achieve that objective smoothly.

Participants were also taken through ‘Using the Auditor-General’s Report Accountability and Identifying Investigative Lead,’ ‘Practical Tips for Translating Audit Data into Compelling Journalism,’ and ‘Investigative Skills and Techniques – Practical Approach,’ among other topics.