Namah expresses concerns over external auditors

OPPOSITION leader Belden Namah has expressed concern with the engagement of an international auditor to audit AusAID funds used by the Health Department because it did not follow the Audit Act procedures.
“AusAID funds are from Australian tax payers and so the Auditor- General has the right to audit those funds,” he said.
“It is not a private fund for a private auditor like Forensic Technologies International (FTI) to be engaged outside the Audit Act.
“Our procurement laws are designed for public accountability and scrutiny and in this instance, the Audit Act mandates the Auditor -General to sanction the procurement of any private audit services to the Government.”
Namah said this yesterday after acting Auditor-General Gordon Kega revealed that he had not sanctioned the United States-based firm FTI to audit AusAID funds used by the Health Department to procure pharmaceutical supplies. “The Marape Government continues to blatantly ignore legally prescribed processes and established government systems for its own convenience when it engaged an external auditor to audit procurement of pharmaceuticals by the Health Department using AusAID funds.
“More worrying is the shameless action of the National Executive Council to by-pass the Auditor–General’s Office which is mandated to sanction the audit of public funds under the Audit Act.”
The actions of cabinet chaired by Marape amounts to abuse of office and could well infringe on the leadership code.”
Prime Minister James Marape declined to comment on Namah’s claims when The National sent questions to him.
“We will not respond to such statements from Belden Namah and Peter O’Neill,” Marape said.