Ghana’s rating in the World Bank’s Supreme Audit Institutions Independence (SAIs) Index for 2023 fell to a D (6.5), down from the C (8.0-8.5/10) it achieved in 2021.
This indicates a moderate level of SAI independence, suggesting that while some independence indicators were met, there is still room for improvement.
The SAIs Independence Index, launched by the World Bank in July 2021, assesses the independence of supreme audit institutions worldwide across 10 indicators, including legal, financial, mandate, and coverage aspects.
The assessment is based on international standards and practices, offering recommendations for reforms to enhance Ghana’s SAI independence.
Policy recommendations include reinforcing existing policies, incorporating INTOSAI principles into the legal framework, and establishing clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for audit recommendation follow-up processes.
Additionally, the government is urged to promote stakeholder dialogues to enhance collaboration between relevant bodies and ensure effective implementation of SOPs.
Furthermore, attention is needed to refocus on various audit types as mandated by Ghanaian laws to uphold probity and accountability in governance.
Despite legal requirements outlined in the PFM Act, 2016 (Act 921), audit recommendations are often not effectively followed up on or tracked.
Spending Officers are advised to conduct root cause analyses of audit issues and communicate them clearly to facilitate resolution of identified infractions and irregularities.