VP blames poor records, institutional changes for audit delays
“At this point, I cannot say why, sometimes it depends on the nature of the recommendation because some recommendations require some institutional changes,” he stated. He also pointed to weaknesses in record-keeping as another factor affecting the pace of implementation. “Sometimes, as we have seen in many cases, the nature of our record keeping can also hamper the pace of implementation of recommendations,” he noted. The Vice President said he could not provide specific reasons for every delay without going back to the Accounting Department. Among the recommendations still being implemented are the follow-up on fisheries arrears, clearance of unreconciled transactions, stock-taking of government arrears, reconciliation between the cashbook, the general ledger and Note 15, clearance of differences used in bank reconciliation, and closure of dormant bank accounts. Lawmakers also pressed Jallow on the six recommendations that remain partially implemented and whether government had set deadlines for completing them. He acknowledged that setting timelines would make sense under normal circumstances but said some recommendations could be difficult to complete within a fixed period. He cited the recovery of prior-year outstanding amounts as an example where establishing a firm deadline could be challenging. However, VP Jallow said government would work with the Accountant General’s Department to see how timelines could be established for the outstanding recommendations. He also told the Assembly that government was implementing measures aimed at strengthening accountability and transparency, including digitising government revenue collection, extending the Integrated Financial Management Information System to projects and agencies, improving the storage of payment vouchers and strengthening month-end financial reporting. The Vice President said government was also collaborating with the National Audit Office by providing financial records and other information required for the audit process.
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“At this point, I cannot say why, sometimes it depends on the nature of the recommendation because some recommendations require some institutional changes,” he stated.
He also pointed to weaknesses in record-keeping as another factor affecting the pace of implementation.
“Sometimes, as we have seen in many cases, the nature of our record keeping can also hamper the pace of implementation of recommendations,” he noted.
The Vice President said he could not provide specific reasons for every delay without going back to the Accounting Department.
Among the recommendations still being implemented are the follow-up on fisheries arrears, clearance of unreconciled transactions, stock-taking of government arrears, reconciliation between the cashbook, the general ledger and Note 15, clearance of differences used in bank reconciliation, and closure of dormant bank accounts.
Lawmakers also pressed Jallow on the six recommendations that remain partially implemented and whether government had set deadlines for completing them.
He acknowledged that setting timelines would make sense under normal circumstances but said some recommendations could be difficult to complete within a fixed period.
He cited the recovery of prior-year outstanding amounts as an example where establishing a firm deadline could be challenging.
However, VP Jallow said government would work with the Accountant General’s Department to see how timelines could be established for the outstanding recommendations.
He also told the Assembly that government was implementing measures aimed at strengthening accountability and transparency, including digitising government revenue collection, extending the Integrated Financial Management Information System to projects and agencies, improving the storage of payment vouchers and strengthening month-end financial reporting.
The Vice President said government was also collaborating with the National Audit Office by providing financial records and other information required for the audit process.
