Solomon Islanders benefit from training in Ghana

Two Government officials benefited from a training programme in internal auditing.

They are Matthew Tuanivalu, Senior Auditor from the Internal Audit Bureau of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and Gabriel Manelusi, Director, Internal Audit & Inspection of the Ministry of Police & National Security.

The pair recently participated in the 2nd Commonwealth Thematic Exchange Programme in Internal Audit, held in Ghana, Africa.  The Commonwealth Secretariat funded and facilitated the programme with support from the host Government of Ghana.

Participants also had the opportunity to learn from Ghana’s experience in internal auditing in which participants attached to various ministries and agencies of the government of Ghana.

Both officers said the programme was very useful especially when internal auditing in the country is in its developmental stages.
Mr Tuanivalu said the programme is a stepping stone to developing internal audit standards and mechanisms to ease external auditing work by the Office of the Auditor General here.

This, he said, should improve transparency and accountability in as far as good governance is concerned on the use of public funds.
Mr Tuanivalu pointed out that the next step now is for the Bureau to draw up a national plan of action for the Bureau as well as to set up a national internal audit network of internal auditors.

Asked as to how he findd the programme, Mr Manelusi says the knowledge and skills that he acquired from the programme will greatly assist him in his work in inspection & internal audit within the Ministry of Police & National Security.

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alfred Mane Lovanitila thanks the Commonwealth Secretariat for responding favourably to the Government’s request for financial assistance to fully fund the duo’s participation.

Mr Lovanitila said this is a bonus for Solomon Islands as other participants’ return air fares had to be borne by their respective governments.

He added that his office had already submitted a proposal from the Bureau to the ComSec for which approval had been granted for a Technical Assistant (TA) to assist the Bureau in developing its national action plan and mechanisms to ensure it carries on its work in accordance to international standards in internal auditing.

Source: Solomon Star