Imagine a headline screaming billions of dollars vanished from public coffers! It's enough to ignite public outrage, right? But what if that headline, while technically true, paints a misleading picture? This is precisely the concern raised by the Ghana Audit Service, urging journalists to tread carefully when reporting on financial irregularities.
Frederick Lokko, the Assistant Director of Audit and Information Officer at the Ghana Audit Service (https://audit.gov.gh/), recently addressed journalists in Accra, emphasizing the crucial role they play in shaping public perception. He stressed that inaccurate reporting on “cash irregularities” in the Auditor-General’s reports can lead to widespread misunderstanding and even fuel unwarranted accusations of corruption.
Mr. Lokko pointed out a common pitfall: many newsrooms lack the specialized expertise to dissect complex audit reports. This can result in sensationalized headlines that imply outright theft when, in reality, the issue might stem from a simple procedural oversight. “The whole point of this training is to encourage more accurate reporting,” Mr. Lokko stated. “A key area is how you report on cash irregularities. Often, the term ‘irregularity’ simply means something was done against the rules.”
But here's where it gets controversial... Not all cash irregularities equate to actual misappropriation. Mr. Lokko was very clear: “Just because we label something as a cash irregularity doesn’t automatically mean someone pocketed the money. We want you to consult the Auditor General’s report thoroughly before publishing your stories.” He wants journalists to understand the distinction between a procedural error and outright embezzlement.
The training session walked journalists through the different types of reports the Auditor-General submits to Parliament: performance audits (assessing efficiency and effectiveness), financial compliance audits (ensuring adherence to regulations), and information systems audits (evaluating the security and reliability of IT systems). Understanding both the findings and the recommendations is paramount, Mr. Lokko emphasized. He explained that grasping the full context of an issue provides the necessary perspective for accurate reporting.
And this is the part most people miss... The Auditor-General's office doesn't have the power to prosecute. Disallowance or surcharge certificates are essentially recommendations, not legally binding enforcement tools. “The Auditor General’s mandate does not include prosecutorial powers,” Mr. Lokko clarified. “Its enforceability lies outside of the mandate of the Auditor General,” meaning another body must take up the case.
Mr. Lokko specifically cautioned against the dangers of focusing solely on aggregate figures in headlines. Imagine a headline screaming “Total cash irregularities of $25 billion!” The immediate reaction is outrage. “When this goes out, it sends a wrong perception. The average Ghanaian on the street thinks that public officials have personally pocketed or stolen that entire amount,” he explained.
He offered a specific example: some irregularities arise from transactions processed outside the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS). This doesn't automatically mean funds were stolen; it simply indicates a deviation from the established protocol. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that the money has gone into somebody’s pocket. But then it falls within the category of cash irregularity,” Mr. Lokko reiterated.
The audit officer also highlighted the importance of performance audits, which evaluate whether public funds are being used economically, efficiently, and effectively. These audits often focus on societal impact rather than simply tracking down missing money. For example, a performance audit might examine whether a road project actually improved transportation or whether a school building is structurally sound.
To illustrate, Mr. Lokko gave an example: “Sometimes, the people of Ghana… their interest lies in maybe failure by a contractor to construct, let’s assume, a classroom block well… when they go to the classroom and it rains and there are holes in the roofing, they got a problem with that one.” He encouraged reporters to emphasize these real-world consequences in their reporting, making the information more relatable and impactful for the public. “If you do your reports and you are not touching on these bits that due to so-and-so issue of the contractor is leading to leakages… it means a lot to them than how much was used to construct it,” he said.
He also mentioned the Citizen's Eye App, a platform where citizens can directly report concerns to the Audit Service.
