Mr. David Kemah, Director General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), has emphasized the imperative of professionalizing the Agency. As the head of the entity, he is committed to ensuring that the IAA attains a higher level of professionalism.
By Henry Karmo – [email protected]
Kemah articulated his vision, outlining plans to achieve it. He intends to advocate for staff training, provide essential equipment to enhance their capabilities, and create a conducive working environment to ensure their job satisfaction while they perform their duties.
In an exclusive interview with FrontPageAfrica on the eve of the IAA’s 10th-anniversary celebration, he also revealed a comprehensive five-year plan for the IAA. This plan not only emphasizes the importance of conducting audits but also focuses on providing training opportunities for staff through continuous education programs.
Kemah stated, “They need to be trained to adapt to new developments in the sector and how to respond to changes in the public sector financial management system. The world is evolving in the way payments are made in the public sector, with a significant shift towards electronic transactions. Consequently, we need to equip our staff to effectively address the audit requirements of these systems.”
He continued, “We have devised a five-year strategic plan aimed at professionalizing the IAA over the next five years. The initial phase of this plan includes enhancing the capacity of some of our auditors who have been with us for a while by facilitating their completion of the CIA exam.”
Reflecting on his one-year tenure as the head of the entity, Kemah shared that his team had successfully implemented a scorecard system in public institutions. This system has played a pivotal role in guiding their decisions on where and how to prioritize their internal audit operations.
“We have identified key areas such as payroll policies, fixed asset management, budgetary allocations, and more. Our efforts also include the automation of the audit process through the implementation of specialized audit software procured for the IAA. This software will enhance the quality of our reports and significantly expedite our audit processes, enabling us to handle multiple functions more efficiently,” Kemah stated.
When asked whether the IAA is meeting its objectives, Kemah acknowledged that they may not be achieving the full extent of their objectives, as required by the act that established the Agency. Nevertheless, he highlighted the significant progress made and the high expectations from the public regarding the financial operations of the government.
Kemah stated, “The public’s interest in government financial operations is exceptionally high. To bridge the gap between providing assurance to the public regarding the presence of controls and convincing heads of public institutions to collaborate with the IAA, we need to accomplish more. We have a dedicated and prepared staff base. Our primary focus is to professionalize our staff, ensure their satisfaction, and, consequently, apply the necessary pressure to enhance their performance and bolster public confidence.”
He added, “The Legislature made a prudent decision when they established the IAA. There is a clear need for an entity with a distinct perspective to scrutinize government operations and recommend improvements. We are committed to these objectives, and we believe that the necessary resources, such as budgetary allocations, can facilitate our efforts. Furthermore, we aim to establish cooperative relationships with institutions to ensure the implementation of our recommendations.”
The IAA, established in 2013 through an act of the Legislature, operates in Liberia’s public sector, with a mission to instill controls that foster compliance, minimize risks, and prevent abuse within the public sector.