The Central Regional Minister, Hon. Justina Marigold Assan has commissioned an ultramodern Regional Office facility for the Audit Service in Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana.

The office complex was made possible through a government facilitated loan amount of €30million from the German Financial Coorperation, implemented through GAZ for the construction of twenty-five (25) Regional and District offices for the Audit Service across the country.

Commissioning of the office complex witnessed revered personalities like the Oguaamanhene, Osabarimba Dr. Kwesi Atta ll, the Auditor-General, Head of Cooperations for the German Embassy, the Central Regional Minister, Evans Agyin, the Central Regional Director for the Audit Service among several other dignitaries.

Speaking on behalf of the President, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, Hon. Justina Marigold Assan noted that the Audit Service's infrastructure development across Ghana are not just about buildings but about fortifying the very foundation of the nation's audit system.

Thereby, strengthening the Regional and District structures of the Audit Service by enhancing its capacity to fulfill its constitutional mandate effectively. Ensuring that public resources are managed with the highest integrity.

Franzista Jebens, Head of Cooperations for the German Embassy, recounted that the project is intended to contribute to the Ghanaian development agenda to foster effective, transparent and accountable public institutions at all levels in accordance with the principles of good governance.

Stressing that the project's objective is to increase accountability from strengthening the National Audit Service at a decentralized level, since good governance is the fundamental pillar of all German cooperation projects.

She re-emphasized that as it is prerequisite for an effective development, transparent financial management will enhance the trust of national institutions, as transparent and deficient procedures constantly monitored and improved, will also reduce cost for private companies, thereby fostering economic growth.

The Auditor-General, Mr. Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu in a media engagement highlighted that the establishment of new office facilities for the Audit Service has come at an advantageous period to ease off the organization's accommodation crisis suffered over the years, having own only 30% of their occupied offices across the country, with majority of their accommodations been owned by the various District Assemblies they annually audit.

He opined that though the Audit Service still encounter some accommodation challenge, the establishment of nineteen (19) new Regional and District offices and the construction of an additional twelve (12) offices will see to the end of the Audit Service's confronted accommodation challenges.

Sompaonline.com/Eric Annan