Electoral Commission sets up audit committee

National, Normal
Source:

By ALISON ANIS

PAPUA New Guinea’s Electoral Commission (EC) has set up an audit committee (AC) and an internal audit unit (IAU) to raise efficiency and accountability in the management of electoral and public funds.
Secretary for Finance Gabriel Yer officially launched the audit committee yesterday in the EC’s operations headquarters at Boroko.
Auditor-General George Sulliman, Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen, and a group from the Finance Department’s Internal Audit and Compliance Division (IACD) and senior management from EC attended the launch.
The IAU team comprises of Mr Yer as chairman, Mr Trawen and Mr Sulliman, EC chief inspector Billy Irukovu, senior audit inspector Vagi Sariman and two private committee members from outside the commission who are yet to be appointed.
“The aim of establishing the AC is to ensure transparency in the way we manage our resources and to improve efficiency and accountability of the EC through the audit committee programme.
“The role of the committee is to provide independent support to the EC’s corporate governance, risk management and internal control framework, external accountability and compliance with the relevant legislations,” Mr Trawen said.
To date, there are 22 audit committees established in Government departments, provincial administrations and statutory bodies, including the EC.
Mr Yer approved the establishment of the AC committee through IACD.
He said the establishment of the AC was timely especially with the approaching national elections in 2012.
“A lot of funds will be used during the elections and the AC will act as an important management tool for the EC to manage how the funds and resources are used to ensure they are above the board,” he said.