The Ghana Audit Service has urged journalists to promote accurate and context-based reporting on cash irregularities cited in the Auditor-General’s reports, stressing that not every irregularity equates to misappropriation of public funds.
Speaking on the side-lines of a capacity-building workshop for the media on the CitizensEye App and the Auditor-General’s Reports, an anti-corruption initiative aimed at enhancing governance and accountability, Assistant Director of Audit and Information Officer Fredrick Lokko said the media plays a vital role in shaping public perception regarding audit findings.
“When we say ‘cash irregularities,’ it doesn’t always mean somebody has pocketed public funds,” he explained. “Sometimes it simply means the transaction was done outside the lawful procedure, for instance, not using the GIFMIS system. That alone qualifies as an irregularity, but it does not always amount to misappropriation.”
Lokko urged journalists to study the full content of audit reports, including the recommendations section, before publishing, as this allows the public to properly distinguish between administrative breaches, negligence, and potential financial loss.
Deputy Auditor-General Lawrence Ayagiba described the workshop as timely, particularly as the Service is seeking to improve public understanding of its reports.
“Our reports are written for Ghanaians, but the language can be technical. Many people do not even realise when the reports concern their own districts,” he said. “That is why journalists are essential to break it down for citizens so accountability can truly work.”
Director of Audits Roberta Ntim, together with senior officers, demonstrated the CitizensEye App, a public engagement platform that enables citizens to report suspected fraud, waste, mismanagement and poor service delivery directly to the Audit Service.
She stated that the application is backed by Section 51 of the Audit Service Regulations, 2011 (C.I. 70), which empowers the Service to detect red flags and prioritise emerging issues from the public.
“We encourage journalists to promote and use the app. It’s another way citizens can help strengthen public accountability,” she said.
The workshop, held on 21st November 2025, aimed to improve media understanding of the Auditor-General’s mandate while promoting responsible and impactful reporting on issues of public financial management through tools like the CitizensEye App.
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