Barriers and catalysts to effective internal audit in the ghanaian public sector

Barriers and Catalysts to Effective Internal Audit in the Ghanaian Public Sector Authors: Joseph M.. Onumah, Redeemer Yao Krah 2012, Barriers and Catalysts to Effective Internal Audit in

Barriers and Catalysts to Effective Internal Audit in the Ghanaian Public Sector

Author(s):

Joseph M Onumah,

Redeemer Yao Krah

Volume

12 Part A Editor(s): Venancio Tauringana, Musa Mangena ISBN: 978-1-78190-222-6 eISBN:

978-1-78190-223-3

Citation:

Joseph M Onumah, Redeemer Yao Krah (2012), Barriers and Catalysts to Effective Internal Audit in the

Ghanaian Public Sector, in Venancio Tauringana, Musa Mangena (ed.) Accounting in Africa (Research in

Accounting in Emerging Economies, Volume 12 Part A) Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.177 - 207

DOI

10.1108/S1479-3563(2012)000012A012

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Abstract:

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to investigate the role of the internal audit function in the public sector entities in Ghana and the factors limiting the effectiveness of internal audit in the sector

Design/Methodology/Approach – The study collected the data from 120 internal auditors in 40 ministries,

departments and agencies (MDAs) through a self-administered questionnaire A semi-structured interview with a senior manager of the Internal Audit Agency, the oversight body was also carried out as a follow up

Findings – The scope of internal audit services in the sector is limited to regular audit activities, mainly pre-audit

of payment vouchers which take estimated 74% of the average productive audit time The effectiveness of internal audit in the Ghanaian public sector is hampered by several factors: low professional proficiency of internal auditors; lack of management ownership and support for internal audit activities, lack of budget authority

of the internal audit units and weak functioning of audit committees, among others Some remedial programmes are ongoing

Research limitations – Inherent in the study result is the limitation associated with non-probability sampling methods because of the use of purposive sampling technique to select the internal auditors and the

organisations

Practical implication – The result of the study may have policy implication for government in the design of

programmes for improving the effectiveness of internal audit as an element of public financial management reforms

Originality/Value – Despite several studies on internal audit effectiveness in the public sector organisations, none relates to Ghana This study fills the gap