The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has commended the South Tongu Municipal Assembly for resolving audit infractions flagged in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report and improving compliance with financial accountability measures.
The commendation followed a citizen-led accountability dialogue involving the Assembly’s management, Audit Committee members, internal auditors, and community representatives, as part of efforts to deepen transparency and social auditing in local governance.
CDD-Ghana’s Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Jacob Tetteh Ahuno, said the engagement provided a platform for citizens to assess how public institutions respond to audit findings and implement corrective actions.
He noted that the Assembly had previously been cited for non-remittance of statutory deductions to the Ghana Revenue Authority (Ghana Revenue Authority) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (Social Security and National Insurance Trust), but both issues had since been resolved.
According to him, verification documents confirmed that outstanding payments had been fully settled, with no further action required, describing the development as evidence of improved responsiveness to audit recommendations.
The engagement also reviewed broader internal control systems within the Assembly, with discussions highlighting delays in acting on internal audit findings before they escalate into external audit queries.
Mr Ahuno stressed the need for stronger attention to internal audit reports and more frequent Audit Committee meetings to prevent recurrence of similar infractions in future.
He added that CDD-Ghana would continue to advocate reforms aimed at strengthening internal audit independence and improving the effectiveness of public sector oversight mechanisms.
The Internal Auditor of the Assembly, Mr Haruna Issaku, described the exercise as timely, noting that it reflects growing citizen involvement in accountability processes and supports better financial management practices.
He said the Assembly had recorded a steady reduction in audit infractions over the years and expressed confidence that collaboration between management, auditors, and the Audit Committee would further improve compliance.
The Presiding Member of the South Tongu Municipal Assembly, Mr Mensah Kwaku Kudze, reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to implementing audit recommendations promptly and maintaining sound financial discipline.
The engagement was conducted under the Strengthening Accountability, Rule of Law, and Institutional Responsiveness in Ghana (SARIS) project, funded by the European Union (European Union) and implemented by CDD-Ghana, Transparency International Ghana, and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition.
The project seeks to enhance citizen participation in governance and strengthen anti-corruption systems across selected districts in Ghana.
