Daniel Yao Domelevo, the Auditor General of the African nation of Ghana, called for greater independence for internal auditors to help end corruption in the country.
He said internal auditors were the custodians of accountability, yet were weakened by “employer dominance and political interference,” and must be granted full independence to deliver the mandate of the Audit Service.
“Let’s not be afraid in fighting corruption. When you fight corruption, it would fight you back. When they praise you too much it means you are a bad auditor.”
—Daniel Yao Domelevo, Auditor General, Ghana
“We need to take a second look at internal audit. They can be likened to the eyes and ears of management. They are with the institution, and they can save the country from a lot of losses that we have been incurring over the years. But they are weak. They don’t have the independence to do their work,” he said at the opening of an audit conference in Ho, Ghana.
The Auditor General said the burden of the audit lay on the shoulders of the internal audit unit, and it must show strength in the face of work related challenges and must not be coaxed or threatened into producing shoddy work.
“Let’s not take the risk associated with our office as an excuse of non-performance. Yes there is risk, but it is part of the occupational hazard and we must accept and drive on for God and for Country, and not for our personal interest,” Domelevo said. “My colleague auditors, let’s not be afraid in fighting corruption. When you fight corruption, it would fight you back. When they praise you too much it means you are a bad auditor,” he continued.