Cabinet recommends Audit Service Bill

Accra, July 21, GNA - Cabinet has recommended a new bill, Audit Service Bill, to replace the Audit Service Decree of 1972 by incorporating new articles.

Announcing this at the post-cabinet press briefing at the Castle, Osu, on Wednesday, Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications, said the new bill would contain articles 187 and 188 of the constitution.

It would also contain certain provisions of the Financial Administration Decree of 1979, thus bringing the operations of the Audit Service in line with modern developments.

Mr Mahama said one innovation in the Bill is the setting up of audit committees in every institution, subject to auditing by the Auditor-General.

These committees would follow up matters and recommendations relating to their organisations in the Auditor-General's report as well as financial matters raised by their internal monitoring units.

"Heads of institutions shall prepare an annual statement showing the status of implementation of the Auditor-General's reports and remedial action taken or planned".

Mr Mahama said following Cabinet's approval, the Attorney-General's Department is to initiate the establishment of a National Commission on Light Arms under the National Security Council. Cabinet also approved the Draft Plan of Action to Implement the Programme for Co-ordination and Assistance for Security and Development.

This programme was adopted by the 16-nation sub-regional economic grouping, ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African states) at its foreign ministers meeting in Bamako, Mali, earlier this year.

It is to give effect to the moratorium declared by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on the exportation, importation and manufacture of light arms and small weapons in West Africa.

"This is to curb the proliferation of these weapons in the sub-region posing security threat to law and order".

He said Cabinet also approved a Copyright Bill to replace the Copyright Law of 1985 to bring the legislation in line with the constitution.