Local authorities must account for public funds: Frederick
NAMPA
KEETMANSHOOP
//Karas governor Aletha Frederick says even though local authorities are challenged to receive clean or unqualified audits they should at all times ensure that public funds are spent prudently and properly accounted for in terms of the legislation and regulations.
Frederick made these remarks at a week-long eighth auditor general’s (AG) stakeholders briefing session for local authorities in the Hardap and //Karas regions on Monday.
The governor said if local authorities desire to achieve clean audits they should comply with the legislation and regulations which require them to have strong leadership, management and discipline without any sort of compromise on accounting principles.
“Therefore, sturdy oversight, good corporate governance and sound financial management are not ends in itself but should result in better service delivery for our people,” she added.
“Clean audits are not the language of our masses, but in managing public finances prudently and ensuring value for money, the government is likely to release more financial resources to spend on public goods and services and that is the only thing that our people are interested to see,” stressed the governor.
Good practices
She said that the dialogue should help local authorities to identify and amplify good practices across the public sector that will enable them to receive clean or unqualified audit opinions.
The deputy AG, Goms Menette, said the aim of the meeting was to allow dialogue between his office and top executive and senior management of village councils and town councils of the //Karas and Hardap regions.
Menette said in order for local authorities to effectively deliver services, accountability needs to be shared for the system to flourish across diagonals in corporate governance.
“It is my hope that this briefing session will allow transparent communication between the administrative management of council and political leadership to harness shared accountability, especially on the accounts of council,” he said.
KEETMANSHOOP
//Karas governor Aletha Frederick says even though local authorities are challenged to receive clean or unqualified audits they should at all times ensure that public funds are spent prudently and properly accounted for in terms of the legislation and regulations.
Frederick made these remarks at a week-long eighth auditor general’s (AG) stakeholders briefing session for local authorities in the Hardap and //Karas regions on Monday.
The governor said if local authorities desire to achieve clean audits they should comply with the legislation and regulations which require them to have strong leadership, management and discipline without any sort of compromise on accounting principles.
“Therefore, sturdy oversight, good corporate governance and sound financial management are not ends in itself but should result in better service delivery for our people,” she added.
“Clean audits are not the language of our masses, but in managing public finances prudently and ensuring value for money, the government is likely to release more financial resources to spend on public goods and services and that is the only thing that our people are interested to see,” stressed the governor.
Good practices
She said that the dialogue should help local authorities to identify and amplify good practices across the public sector that will enable them to receive clean or unqualified audit opinions.
The deputy AG, Goms Menette, said the aim of the meeting was to allow dialogue between his office and top executive and senior management of village councils and town councils of the //Karas and Hardap regions.
Menette said in order for local authorities to effectively deliver services, accountability needs to be shared for the system to flourish across diagonals in corporate governance.
“It is my hope that this briefing session will allow transparent communication between the administrative management of council and political leadership to harness shared accountability, especially on the accounts of council,” he said.
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