Accra, April 16, GNA - Mr Edward Dua-Agyeman, Auditor-General, on Thursday noted that effective auditing at the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDCEs) was crucial in ensuring the success of the decentralization process.

"It is therefore necessary for the Service to have physical presence at the district level to enhance the strategic role of promoting transparency, accountability and probity in the financial management and operations of Assemblies," he said. Mr Dua-Agyeman was speaking when Dr Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, commissioned a two-storey building of the Audit Service at its head office in Accra.

He said presently the Auditor-General had oversight responsibility for the audit of all 138 MMDCEs, 184 Houses of Chiefs and traditional councils and 555 pre-university institutions within metropolis, municipalities and districts nationwide.

Mr Dua-Agyeman noted that strengthening the service at all levels would put the nation at a greater advantage.

"This requires the provision of appropriate institutional infrastructure at all levels where audit is present," he said. "To ensure the actualization of this plan, the Auditor-General is proposing that the Audit Service should also benefit from annual allocations made by Parliament to the Common Fund Act," he added. He added that to concretise the decentralization concept, "the amount so allocated would be applied solely toward infrastructure development".

Mr Dua-Agyeman said the Service had put up a corporate internet access to enhance research capabilities adding that plans for the establishment of an official website were under way. Dr Duffuor charged the Auditor-General to identify revenue loopholes and support the MDAs in plugging them. "I urge all staff of the Audit Service to be upright and support government in plugging revenue leakages at all collection points." He said government was prepared to address genuine concerns of the Service, adding "I urge the Auditor-General to make the necessary contacts at the appropriate offices to set the dialogue in motion." Dr Duffuor said saving money for government as well as unearthing irregularities was important. "If reports of irregularities can be acted upon promptly and effectively and the monetary value recovered quickly, significant developments could be undertaken," the Minister added.